Calycotome spinosa
Calycotome spinosa
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Calycotome spinosa is native to the western Mediterranean with its hot, dry summers and cool moist winters. It is not hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone. It can tolerate short-lived temperatures falling as low as -5 to -10°c if it is given perfect drainage[1]. Succeeds in a very well-drained soil in a sunny position[1]. Plants dislike root disturbance[1], they should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst young. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[2].
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest pre-soaking the seed for 12 - 24 hours (by which time it should have swollen up) in warm water and sowing it in a greenhouse in early spring. Pot up the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in late spring or early summer in their permanent positions. Cuttings of half ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. It is probably best to put each cutting in its own pot. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Calycotome+spinosa>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [2]Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy — United States Department of Agriculture · http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en ↩︎An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.