Baptisia australis, Blue False Indigo is one of our all time favorite nitrogen fixers. This deep rooted prairie species is very drought tolerant and an excellent companion plant to any young fruit tree. False Indigo grows three to four feet in height and width and produces beautiful blueish purple flowers in spring that the bees love. Flowers are followed by beautiful seed pods that turn a deep indigo color and were used as rattles by children in simpler times. Can also be used to make indigo dye and has often been used as a substitute for the true Indigofera. We plant this tough nitrogen fixer more than almost any other when planting young fruit trees.

*Blue False Indigo is a perennial plant that dies back to the ground in winter and sends up new shoots again in mid to late spring.*

For more information check out what the Missouri Botanical Garden has to say 

Latin Name: Baptisia australis
Site and Soil: A variety of soils, so long as they’re well draining and at least half day sun.
Hardiness: False Indigo are hardy to minus 30° F. or below.
Size at Maturity: 3-4 ft. in height.
Bloom Time: Late April-May
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 3

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Crimson Clover – a fast growing leguminous cover crop. Sow in the fall or spring for a quick growing and robust nitrogen fixer or sow in the summer as a slow growing annual. Seed it beneath fruit trees or shrubs or anywhere you have bare soil that needs covered! Till it in for maximum nitrogen release just before its flowers open or let them open to reveal their stunning crimson color and feed the bees.

Trifolium incarnatum, known as crimson clover or Italian clover, is a species of clover in the family Fabaceae, native to most of Europe. The species name incarnatum means “blood red”.

This upright annual herb grows to 20-50 cm tall, unbranched or branched only at the base. The leaves are trifoliate with a long petiole, each leaflet hairy, 8-16 mm across, with a truncated or bilobed apex. The flowers are produced throughout the spring and summer, rich red or crimson, congested on an elongated spike inflorescence 3-5 cm tall and 1.5 cm broad; the individual flowers are up to 10-13 mm long and have five petals. The banner of each flower does not sit upright, but folds forward.

Application Rate: 15 lbs. per acre

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A fun tree to grow from the pea family, the Mimosa tree grows very quickly to form a beautiful shade tree that produces the most charming pink flowers in summer. A very easy tree to grow and one that can take less than ideal soil conditions. It is invasive or has naturalized in some parts of the Southeast, and reportedly in California too so do some research before planting this one in your area. The city of Portland currently has this on its list of required trees. For whatever that’s worth…

Latin Name: Albizia julibrissin
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil. Very drought tolerant once established and will need little supplemental watering during the summer season, though a bit of summer water speeds growth when getting it established.
Hardiness: Hardy to approx. 0º F.
Size at Maturity: typically around 30 feet, but have heard of much larger specimens
Bloom Time: late spring to summer
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 6

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A stunning blue foliaged acacia and also one that has a decent bit of cold hardiness to it. The textured blue foliage makes an excellent back drop to the show of yellow flowers that cover the tree in late winter. Summer pruning and little to no water after it’s established will also help curtail any excessive growth that could break under heavy snow or winds. *This is not the purpurea form of Acacia baileyana. These trees feature blue foliage without the purple new growth that the purpurea form has.*

Latin Name: Acacia baileyana 
Site and Soil: Full sun in a variety of soils
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to 15F
Size at Maturity: 30 ft in height by 25 ft in width
Bloom Time: January-April
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8b

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An incredibly useful tree native to the southeastern United States, Black Locust has multiple uses and has been valued by homesteaders for generations. Though it can be invasive in certain climates, and is prohibited in Massachusetts, it is valued for its ability to fix nitrogen in nutrient poor soils, stabilizes erosion prone soils, provides habitat for wildlife, has rot resistant and amazingly hot burning wood, and its aromatic flowers can even be dipped in batter and deep fried! Be aware though that the tree will sucker vigorously if pruned hard or damaged by snow or ice storms.

Latin Name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Site and Soil: Well draining soil in half to full day sun.
Hardiness: -40°F.
Size at Maturity: 40-60 feet tall
Bloom Time: Spring
Pests & Diseases: We have not noticed any pest or disease damage on our plants.
USDA Zone: 3-8

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A mysterious and exquisite bottlebrush that we got from Ian Barclay of the fabulous Desert Northwest Nursery years ago and it has been living a happy yet crowded life along our northern fence line here at the nursery. Incredible deep purple flowers are the real show stoppers along with large leaves, soft felty new growth, and a larger growing stature than most of the hardy bottlebrush. Ian originally received this plant from the legendary Jim Gerdemann and its origins are a bit murky but it is an excellent plant. It took quite a hit of cold damage for us this past winter of 2022-23 but is re-sprouting, and in cozier microclimates it should sail through winter with hardly a whimper.

Latin Name: Callistemon sp. ‘Mt Drummer’
Site and Soil: Half-day to full-day sun, and well-drained soil. Quite drought resistant once established.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 15° F
Size at Maturity: 6-10′ tall & 4-6′ wide
Bloom Time: April
USDA Zone: 8b

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A very tough and unique bottlebrush from Tasmania, the Green Bottlebrush is among the most hardy of the genus and unlike any other plant in the garden. The foliage looks something like a mix between a conifer and an olive tree on grey-white stems and the flowers are an amazing lime green. Unique and very easy to grow in full sun with well-drained soils.

Latin Name: Callistemon viridiflorus
Site and Soil: Half-day to full-day sun, and well-drained soil. Quite drought resistant once established.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5° F
Size at Maturity: 5-8′ tall & 4-6′ wide
Bloom Time: April
USDA Zone: 7a

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A selection from Clemson, SC this cold hardy Callistemon is known to survive negative temperatures, proving to be one of the hardiest bottlebrush varieties. Pendulant branches are decorated by dark green slender leaves. In April, scintillating flowers bloom a striking red and continue periodically through the summer.

Latin Name: Callistemon rigidus
Site and Soil: Half-day to full-day sun, and well-drained soil. Quite drought resistant once established.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 15° F, but will resprout from the roots
Size at Maturity: 4-6′ tall & 4-6′ wide
Bloom Time: April
USDA Zone: 7a

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A useful and commonly seen herbaceous perennial with a multitude of uses, Common Yarrow is an easy to grow plant with a deep root system, flowers that native pollinators love, and various medicinal uses. White flowers appear in late spring to summer.

Latin Name: Achillea millefolium
Site and Soil: Yarrow prefers full sun and can tolerate a wide range of soils
Hardiness: –50º Fahrenheit 
Size at Maturity: 2’x2′
Bloom Time: late spring-summer
Pests & Diseases: None
USDA Zone: 3

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An interesting and variable Acacia species from southern Australia, the Narrow Leaf Wattle isn’t the most cold hardy species in the genus, but it’s got a chance in the most protected parts of USDA Zone 8b and certainly zone 9 and up. Leaves are incredibly long and narrow and provide nice texture. Yellow flowers cover the tree in late winter to spring and are beloved by pollinators.

Latin Name: Acacia mucronata 
Site and Soil: Full sun in a variety of soils
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to 15-20 F. or so, possible die back in cold winters.
Size at Maturity: 10-20’H x 15’W
Bloom Time: January-April
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8b-9a
Sunset Western Zone: Not listed
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed

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