Introduced on the Canadian prairies in the 1880's, the hardy caragana provided shelter-belts, wildlife habitat, nitrogen fixation, and windbreaks to prevent soil erosion and snow drifting.

[4] Typically, it has a moderate to fast growth rate, being able to grow one to three feet during the first year after trimming.

[5] The plant tolerates a wide range of climatic environments in the United States such as Alaska, California, and New Mexico.

[9][failed verification][7] It can be used to neutralize soil to prepare for further planting and as a legume, C. arborescens fixes nitrogen.

[citation needed] It is suitable for planting in single-row field windbreaks where a dense, short barrier is desired;[original research?]