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N-fixing desert trees (was: Re: all theory thread DESIGNPRINCIPLES)



The ideal plant would have a high broad canopy, fix nitrogen, have grey
green or silvery foliage to resist ultraviolet, provide light shade, and be
drought tolerant. 

Scott: You're in what, USDA Zone 5-6 or so? I assume you've looked at that
native invasive, mesquite. You could check Laburnum; and there are some
Albizias that are hardy to Zone 6 and maybe Zone 5. Both have open canopies,
and can take drought once established. And some big shrubs: Hippophae
rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) gets pretty large and is drought tolerant, has an
open canopy of grey leaves. Colutea arborescens (Bladder senna) is very
tough and drought tolerant. And I would think that caragana would do, though
it might not get as big as you want. Various brooms (Spartium, hybrid
Cytisus x spachianus [a non-invasive type])? The Bullocks up in Washington
use tall shrub canopies for nurses, and they only get 16 inches of rain,
though they irrigate to get things going.

A nice, thoughtful post, BTW.

Toby

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