N Fixing Plants For Temperate Climate
N Fixing Plants For Temperate Climate
N Fixing Plants For Temperate Climate
Gardens
Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plants and plant growth. Nitrogen fixing plants are also a vital component
of rebuilding soil fertility with permaculture. These plants comprise a large part of the forest garden.
As a nitrogen fixing plant grows, it creates a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. It is an involved
process, but the bottom line is that excess nitrogen is built up in the plants tissues. When leaves fall,
roots die, or gardeners prune back leaves (and drop them on the ground to decompose) the excess
nitrogen is released back into the soil. This excess nitrogen is picked up by the other plants in the area
and utilized for their own growth.
When forest gardening and rebuilding soil fertility, we can surround our one producer plant (a fruit or nut
tree, bush, or vine) with many nitrogen fixing plants. As our producer grows, we can chop leaves from
the nitrogen fixing plants and mulch our producer. This feeds our producer from the top. Also, as we cut
leaves, some of the nitrogen fixing plant's roots die back as well. This fertilizes from underground. And
all that extra organic matter continues to build the water retaining capabilities of the soil, provides food for
worms, and hiding places for beneficial insects, etc. There are just so many benefits from this.
Following is a list of plants that I assembled and will continue to work on as I obtain more information. All
are nitrogen fixers that are compatible with temperate climate permaculture. Plants are listed
alphabetically by scientific name. There are a few plants with the same common name. Sometimes I
came across multiple listings for Zones for an specific plant. I tried to list the most common and/or
reliable zone information. Also, if only one zone is listed, then the plants are hardy to that USDA Zone.