Cicer songaricum Seeds | Songar Cicer
LATIN NAME: Cicer songaricum
COMMON NAME: Songar Cicer
Plant Profile
Songar Cicer (Cicer songaricum) is a perennial in the pea family (Fabaceae), native to high, dry valleys and stony slopes of the central Asia, while it is treasured for its tough, drought-hardy ways. In high, dry valleys of the central Asia grows a wild cousin of familiar chickpea. It grows low and tight against stony ground, standing up to cold winters and dry summers of high valleys, and its deep roots go down in search of the water. It is a wild relative of cultivated chickpea, and it shares the same fine, pinnate leaves and pea-like flowers. Through the flowering season it keeps visiting bees well supplied. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the pea family, Cicer songaricum draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. What has drawn scientists to the Songar cicer is its kinship with the chickpea. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Songar Cicer for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. For dry-land garden and the rockery, the Songar cicer is a quiet gem. Its small, pink or purple, pea-like flowers feed bees and many insects, and its tough, much-branched growth holds stony ground, while its small, one-seeded pods feed the birds. Its kinship with chickpea makes it a treasure of breeding work, and its drought-hardy ways have made it a valued plant of dry garden and the reclamation. Establishment is uncomplicated, and afterwards ordinary care suffices.
Chickpea is a protein-and-fiber staple with a low glycemic impact, and its folate and resistant starch make it a pillar of heart-healthy diets.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Songar Cicer, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray bright light. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
It forms a perennial, which makes spacing and siting straightforward. Among the Cicer group, it is one of the more distinctive species in cultivation. Plant it in sun with drainage to its liking and the rest is easy.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Songar Cicer often pair it with these related subjects: