Plant Family

Fabaceae

96 plants in database

The nitrogen-fixing backbone of every food forest guild. Plant at least one Fabaceae member per guild — they feed everything around them for free via Rhizobium root nodules. Woody members like pigeon pea and black locust are best chopped to the ground annually; leave the roots to decompose and release nitrogen in place. Avoid planting alliums nearby — sulfur compounds suppress the Rhizobium bacteria legumes depend on. Beans and peas are the easiest seeds to save — self-pollinating before flowers open, so varieties stay true with no isolation needed.