Tagasaste
Chamaecytisus proliferus
A fast nitrogen-fixing fodder shrub that feeds soil and livestock alike and cuts endlessly for chop-and-drop. Frost-tender when young and dislikes wet feet.
Tagasaste in a syntropic line
Tagasaste belongs in the Shrub layer as a Secondary nitrogen-fixing biomass species. Support species, fruit, and nitrogen fixers under the canopy. Rough in-row spacing starts around 1.1 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Almond, Apricot. As a Secondary species it carries mid-term yield and structure while climax trees slowly claim the canopy.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Shrub
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Sandy, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Min. temperature
- -8°C
- Min. rainfall
- 300 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Canary Islands
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Outstanding fast nitrogen-fixing fodder and biomass shrub; cut hard and often for chop-and-drop or animal forage and it resprouts strongly.
How to propagate
Sow seed fresh in spring; scarify or pour hot water over the seed first so the hard coat opens.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Frost-tender while young (established plants handle light frost); dislikes waterlogged or heavy soils; can self-seed and naturalise.
Frequently asked questions about Tagasaste
Is tagasaste frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -8°C when dormant, with medium frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does tagasaste need?
It does best on sandy, loam ground, at pH about 5.5–7.5.
How much water does tagasaste need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 300 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can tagasaste handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — tagasaste has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with tagasaste?
Frost-tender while young (established plants handle light frost); dislikes waterlogged or heavy soils; can self-seed and naturalise.
Design your line to see how your land fits Tagasaste.
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