Growing a Weeping Pea Shrub
The weeping pea shrub, also known by its botanical name of Caragana sp., or simply by its nickname of "pea shrub", is a lovely downward growing with satiny bark and delicate, compact leaves that almost appear as green lace to the casual observe. The weeping pea shrub is gaining popularity as a bonsai, although the tree does not fit the normal bonsai characteristics. The weeping pea shrub is considered extremely resilient and hardy and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, including freezing temperatures, without ill effect. It grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2 through 4, and is overall quite disease and pest resistant. The weeping pea shrub can serve as an excellent accent or ornamental shrub or small tree for foundation plantings, as it reaches heights of just eight feet and widths of just six feet at maturity. Learn from experts how to grow and care for a weeping pea shrub in your home garden or landscape setting.
Preparing to Grow the Weeping Pea Shrub
The weeping pea shrub prefers full sun outdoors and bright light indoors, and does very well even in dry or nutrient poor soils.
Growing and Caring for the Weeping Pea Shrub
The weeping pea shrub will respond best if offered regular watering s soil dries out from the spring to fall seasons. In the winter, the soil of a weeping pea shrub can be allowed to dry out completely. Yellowing leaves indicates that the weeping pea shrub is suffering from overwatering. The weeping pea shrub can be offered bonsai type fertilizer once per month or as needed as it is becoming established. Wiring or pruning can be done at any time for shaping, as long as care is taken to protect the delicate bark. The weeping pea shrub may suffer from aphids, spider mites, greenfly, or mildew, for which pesticide treatments are recommended.
