Tree medick
Medicago arborea
A tough evergreen nitrogen-fixer that doubles as fodder and chop-and-drop mulch on hot, dry ground. Short-lived and frost-shy, but a real workhorse while it's around.
Tree medick in a syntropic line
Tree medick 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 0.8 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Cork oak, Olive. 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, Rocky
- Soil pH range
- 6.5 – 8.5
- Min. temperature
- -8°C
- Min. rainfall
- 300 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- Low
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Mediterranean
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Evergreen nitrogen-fixing fodder shrub for hot dry edges; cut regularly for chop-and-drop mulch or livestock browse and it resprouts vigorously.
How to propagate
Scarify seed lightly or soak; hardwood cuttings strike readily in warm season.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Frost-tender below roughly -6 to -8°C, especially when young; relatively short-lived (often 10-15 years); dislikes heavy, waterlogged soils.
Frequently asked questions about Tree medick
Is tree medick frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -8°C when dormant, with low frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does tree medick need?
It does best on sandy, loam, rocky ground, at pH about 6.5–8.5.
How much water does tree medick need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 300 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can tree medick handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — tree medick has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with tree medick?
Frost-tender below roughly -6 to -8°C, especially when young; relatively short-lived (often 10-15 years); dislikes heavy, waterlogged soils.
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