Tagasaste, also known as tree lucerne, is one of the most useful and underappreciated trees a homesteader, rancher, or permaculture grower can plant. Native to the Canary Islands and botanically known as Chamaecytisus palmensis, this fast-growing evergreen legume produces some of the highest-protein tree fodder in the world, fixes nitrogen in the soil, blooms profusely with fragrant white flowers in winter when little else is in bloom, and thrives in dry, poor soils where most pasture and forage crops fail.
If you raise livestock, this tree changes the math on dry-season feeding. The leaves and tender branches run 15 to 27 percent crude protein on a dry weight basis, comparable to or exceeding alfalfa, and animals love it. Sheep, goats, cattle, deer, alpacas, llamas, rabbits, pigs, and poultry all browse tagasaste readily. Unlike pasture, which burns out in summer heat or goes dormant in winter, tagasaste stays green and productive year-round in suitable climates, giving you a living fodder bank that doesn't require haying, baling, or storage. Australia, New Zealand, and parts of southern Africa have used tagasaste at commercial scale for exactly this reason.
The permaculture and food forest community values this tree just as highly for different reasons. As a legume, tagasaste fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through root nodules, building fertility around fruit trees and crops planted nearby. It coppices vigorously, meaning you can cut it back hard for chop-and-drop mulch and it regrows quickly. It works beautifully as a windbreak, living fence, nurse tree for establishing more sensitive species, and as erosion control on slopes. The deep root system pulls nutrients from far down in the soil profile and cycles them to the surface through leaf drop.
Beekeepers prize tagasaste for its abundant winter and early-spring bloom. The white pea-like flowers appear in dense clusters when most other nectar sources are months away, and honeybees work them heavily. If you keep bees, even a few tagasaste trees can meaningfully extend your nectar flow into the off-season.
Tagasaste grows quickly, reaching 10 to 20 feet tall and producing useful browse within two to three years from seed. It is hardy to roughly 20 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for USDA zones 8 through 11. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates poor sandy or gravelly conditions, and is highly drought-tolerant once established. It will not tolerate waterlogged soil, so avoid planting in low spots or heavy clay that holds water.
A note on growing from seed. Tagasaste seeds have a hard outer coat that must be scarified before planting for reliable germination. The easiest method is hot water treatment. Place the seeds in a heat-safe container, pour just-boiled water over them, and let them soak for 12 to 24 hours. Seeds that swell to roughly double their original size are ready to plant. Any seeds that did not swell can be re-treated or lightly nicked with a knife or sandpaper to break the seed coat. After scarification, germination typically occurs within 2 to 3 weeks at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds about a quarter-inch deep in well-drained potting mix and keep consistently moist but not soggy until germination. Transplant seedlings to their permanent location once they are 6 to 12 inches tall and after any frost risk has passed.
This is for 25 seeds
