Nitrogen is the lifeblood of your garden, fueling lush, green growth and vibrant harvests. However, not every garden naturally has the nitrogen levels needed to support thriving plants. That’s where nitrogen fixing plants come in.
These incredible plants draw nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form that plants can use, enriching the soil and boosting the health of your entire garden.
Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, or, nitrogen fixing plants fruit trees, incorporating these plants into your garden can significantly reduce your need for synthetic fertilizers and promote a more sustainable gardening practice.
What is Nitrogen and Why Do Plants Need It?
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in plant growth. It’s a major component of chlorophyll, the compound that plants use in photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy.
Without adequate nitrogen, plants can become stunted, their leaves yellow, and their overall health decline.
Nitrogen is also a key element in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins that are vital for the development of plant tissues.
Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates and ammonium. However, many soils are deficient in nitrogen, making it necessary for gardeners to supplement this crucial nutrient. This is where nitrogen fixing plants become invaluable.
By growing these plants, you can naturally increase the nitrogen content in your soil, fostering a more fertile environment for all your garden plants.
How to Add Nitrogen to the Soil
There are several ways to increase nitrogen in your garden soil:
Grow Nitrogen Fixing Plants: These plants form a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called rhizobia, which live in their root nodules. The bacteria take nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form the plant can use, enriching the soil in the process.
Composting: Adding compost made from organic materials such as food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings can increase the nitrogen content in your soil.
Use Organic Fertilizers: Blood meal, feather meal, and fish emulsion are all high in nitrogen and can be used to supplement your soil.
Crop Rotation: Rotating crops, especially by planting legumes (which are nitrogen fixing plants) after heavy feeders like corn, can naturally replenish nitrogen levels in the soil.
Mulching: Organic mulches, like straw or wood chips, decompose over time, releasing nitrogen into the soil.
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List of 30 Nitrogen Fixing Plants
Incorporating these nitrogen fixing plants into your garden not only improves soil health but also supports a diverse and thriving ecosystem. Below is a list of 30 plants that are excellent at fixing nitrogen in your soil.
1. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Alfalfa is a deep-rooted perennial that not only fixes nitrogen but also helps improve soil structure. It’s an excellent cover crop and can be used as mulch or green manure.
2. Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Clover is a popular cover crop that is often used in orchards and gardens. It’s easy to grow, fixes nitrogen efficiently, and attracts beneficial insects.
3. Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Lupines are not only beautiful with their tall, colorful flower spikes, but they are also excellent nitrogen fixers. They work well in ornamental gardens and as a cover crop.
4. Peas (Pisum sativum)
Peas are a common garden vegetable that fixes nitrogen in the soil. No wonder, they are among the first ones on my list of eight edible nitrogen fixing plants. They can be grown alongside other vegetables to boost soil fertility.
5. Beans (Phaseolus spp.)
Beans, including green beans, lima beans, and pole beans, are all effective nitrogen fixers. They’re easy to grow and can be planted in almost any garden.
6. Soybeans (Glycine max)
Soybeans are widely used in agriculture for their nitrogen-fixing abilities. They can also be grown in home gardens to improve soil health.
7. Lentils (Lens culinaris)
Lentils are a lesser-known legume that can fix nitrogen in the soil. They’re drought-tolerant and can be grown in a variety of climates.
8. Vetch (Vicia spp.)
Vetch is commonly used as a cover crop in agriculture. It’s highly effective at fixing nitrogen and can be used to prepare the soil for heavy-feeding crops.
9. Alder (Alnus spp.)
Alder trees are known for their ability to fix nitrogen. They’re often used in reforestation projects and can improve soil quality in degraded areas.
10. Acacia (Acacia spp.)
Acacia trees are fast-growing tropical nitrogen fixing plants for poor soils. They’re commonly used in agroforestry and for erosion control.
11. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Black locust is a hardy tree that fixes nitrogen and improves soil fertility. It’s often planted as a windbreak or for timber.
12. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
Mimosa trees are known for their delicate, fern-like leaves and nitrogen-fixing abilities. They’re often used in ornamental gardens.
13. Caragana (Caragana arborescens)
Also known as Siberian pea shrub, Caragana is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that’s hardy and drought-tolerant. It’s often used in permaculture designs.
14. Indigofera (Indigofera spp.)
Indigofera is a genus of plants that includes several nitrogen-fixing species. These plants are often used in tropical and subtropical regions to improve soil fertility.
15. Sesbania (Sesbania spp.)
Sesbania is a fast-growing plant that fixes nitrogen and can be used as green manure. It’s commonly grown in tropical and subtropical areas.
16. Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The redbud tree is not only beautiful with its pink flowers, but it also fixes nitrogen, making it a great choice for ornamental gardens.
17. False Indigo (Baptisia spp.)
False indigo is a nitrogen-fixing perennial that’s native to North America. It’s often used in native plant gardens and for soil restoration.
18. Sweet Clover (Melilotus spp.)
Sweet clover is a biennial plant that fixes nitrogen and improves soil structure. It’s often used in cover cropping and green manure applications.
19. Groundnut (Apios americana)
Groundnut is a nitrogen-fixing vine that produces edible tubers. It’s a great plant for permaculture and sustainable gardening.
20. Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
Pigeon pea is a perennial legume that fixes nitrogen and can be grown as a cover crop or for food. It’s particularly suited to tropical and subtropical climates.
21. Fava Bean (Vicia faba)
Fava beans are a cool-season legume that fixes nitrogen and improves soil health. They’re often used in crop rotations to replenish nitrogen.
22. Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Honey locust is a nitrogen-fixing tree that can improve soil fertility and is often used in agroforestry systems.
23. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
Cowpea, also known as black-eyed pea, is a drought-tolerant legume that fixes nitrogen. It’s widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
24. Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
Partridge pea is a nitrogen-fixing annual that’s often used in wildflower mixes and for soil restoration projects.
25. Coronilla (Coronilla varia)
Coronilla, or crown vetch, is a nitrogen-fixing plant often used for erosion control and soil stabilization.
26. White Clover (Trifolium repens)
White clover is a common nitrogen-fixing plant that’s often used in lawns, orchards, and as a cover crop.
27. Alfalfa Tree (Medicago arborea)
The alfalfa tree is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that’s used in Mediterranean climates to improve soil fertility and prevent erosion.
28. Yellow Lupine (Lupinus luteus)
Yellow lupine is a nitrogen-fixing plant that’s often used as a cover crop in agriculture to improve soil health.
29. Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens)
Velvet bean is a nitrogen-fixing legume that’s often grown in tropical regions as a cover crop or green manure.
30. Tree Lucerne (Chamaecytisus palmensis)
Tree lucerne, or tagasaste, is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that’s used in agroforestry and permaculture for its ability to improve soil fertility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I grow nitrogen fixing plants fruit trees?
A: Yes, certain fruit trees, such as the nitrogen fixing plants fruit trees in the list, can fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for other plants in your garden.
Q: How do nitrogen fixing plants work?
A: Nitrogen fixing plants work by forming a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their roots, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form the plants can use.
Q: Can nitrogen fixing plants be used in small gardens?
A: Absolutely! Many nitrogen fixing plants, such as clover and peas, are well-suited for small garden spaces.
Q: Do all legumes fix nitrogen?
A: Most legumes are nitrogen fixing plants, but there are exceptions, so it’s important to choose the right species for your garden.
Conclusion
Incorporating nitrogen fixing plants into your garden is a natural and sustainable way to boost soil fertility and promote healthy plant growth.
Whether you’re planting vegetables, cover crops, or nitrogen fixing plants fruit trees, these plants can significantly reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilizers and improve the overall health of your garden.
Add some of the plants from this list to your garden and watch your soil—and your plants—thrive!