Demystifying Nitrogen Fixation to Create a Self-Sufficient Food Forest

Here is a non-exhaustive list of nitrogen-fixing plants that may work well in your area. However, it's essential to conduct thorough research before planting to ensure that the chosen plant species are appropriate for your region and specific site conditions

1. Leguminous Plants:
Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Soybean (Glycine max)
Pea (Pisum sativum)
Lentil (Lens culinaris)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Fava Bean (Vicia faba)
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
Common Vetch (Vicia sativa)
Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa)
Winter Vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. varia)
Purple Vetch (Vicia benghalensis)
Narrowleaf Vetch (Vicia angustifolia)
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

2. Nitrogen-Fixing Trees:
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
Acacia (Acacia spp.)
Alder (Alnus spp.)
Caragana (Caragana arborescens)
Siberian Pea Shrub (Caragana arborescens)
Mimosa Trees (Albizia julibrissin)
Peppermint Willow (Agonis flexuosa)

3. Nitrogen-Fixing Shrubs:
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
Siberian Pea Shrub (Caragana arborescens)
Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
False Indigo (Baptisia spp.)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.)
Oleaster (Elaeagnus spp.)
Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Dyer’s Greenwood (Genista tinctoria)
Bush Clover (Lespedeza spp.)
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)