It will bloom as early as late winter and through the early spring months in the cool temperatures of USDA Zones 8-10. Make sure the mulch doesn't touch the base. Scotch broom is a species within the wider Cytisus (or broom shrub) family. Consider Pineapple Broom (Cytisus battandieri) as more of a woody shrub by removing any dead or damaged shoots after it stops flowering. Most broom shrub varieties were originally introduced as ornamentals but some species became useful as erosion control. Group tall varieties as a hedge or border. Description Drought and salt tolerant rapidly growing shrub with rather broom-like appearance. Note: Chemical control should only be used as a last resort, as organic approaches are safer and much more environmentally friendly. Compare; Find My Store. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Use very sharp, sterilized pruning shears to cut the plant back by one-third. Nestle mass plantings of dwarf varieties in a rock garden. Broom plants, such as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), are common sights along highways, in meadows and in disturbed areas. This low-maintenance plant usually does well without pruning, but because many brooms have relatively short lives, pruning can extend their line span. You can also cut the green foliage and let the stems dry out. Sweet broom (Cytisus x spachianus), also known as Easter broom, is a flowering deciduous shrub with upright arching branches. In spring, the plant springs back to life with hundreds of pea-shaped flowers in dusky pink with red and yellow lips. Brooms grow best in an open area with full sun, though they will tolerate some shade. Some gardeners regard the broom plant to be an invasive weed, while others favor this attractive fast-spreading plant for its airy feel and scented summer blossoms, which attract many pollinators. Spanish broom is so closely angled that it appears almost round. This can be difficult on plants like Scotch broom, which may have a 6-foot (1.8 m.) long taproot. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Sign up for our newsletter. This speedy development makes the plants a threat to native species. Sweet broom can thrive in poor soil, through drought and neglect, and can even fix the nitrogen in the soil with fibrous, fast-growing stabilizing roots. Other Names: Scotch Broom Description: A high quality flowering shrub for difficult places with dry, infertile soil, excellent for use in massing; springtime crimson flowers with lighter red keels and yellow edges on a densely branched, twiggy mound; best used in specific landscape situations It blooms its vivid yellow in late spring. Do not prune in autumn or winter. Broom Plant Care Light. Spanish Broom is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. These plants can be problematic to pets such as dogs and horses, although they are not considered strongly toxic. So broom thrives in disturbed soil. Native to the Mediterranean, western Europe and North Africa, this bushy shrub is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8. If the soil is alkaline, mulch with ericaceous compost in spring. If a broom plant bloomed nearby the previous year, there are thousands of seeds already in the soil ready to sprout. Select a bed in an open sunny location, as these plants will tolerate wind, poor soil, and even rocks. Native to the high mountains of Spain, Spanish Gold® Broom (Cytisus purgans) is a tidy, drought-tolerant “evergreen” shrub that is adaptable to our alkaline soils, hot summers and cold winters. Likes full sun, well drained soil, regular water. One person found this helpful. The two main species that share the common name Broom are Cytisus and Genista. 4 Plant Offer (Limited Quantity) Butchers Broom Plant, Butchers Broom plants are beautiful, fern-like, evergreen perennial shrubs. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. They establish quickly in disturbed areas but also in grassland and forests. The greatest diversity one can find in the Mediterranean region. Rather than ask, where do broom shrubs grow, you should ask, where don’t they grow. The stems die back in dry weather and produce flammable “torches” of plant material. Brooms form small to large shrubs that grow very quickly. A beautiful specimen when singly planted, however, when planted in mass, it produces a virtual avalanche of color. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Develop and improve products. Overgrown plants can be severely pruned but avoid cutting … Follow the light and location directions for the specific variety. However, I noticed a bunch of new sprouts looking dead and upon a closer look saw numerous very small little yellow/black caterpillars that had invaded. The plant can get a bit invasive in some areas though, but a little information on broom shrubs will help you control the plants while still enjoying their ease of care and brilliant blooms. While many people consider the plant a noxious weed, it is an attractive plant with its pea-like golden yellow blooms and bright green compound leaves. Sweet broom benefits from habitual watering if the location is dry and the soil is poor. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. She plants food and flowers in her native Zone 6B. One quite common sweet broom (Cytisus racemosus syn. Leaves are green and small, usually lanceolate. Genista hispanica (Spanish gorse) is a dense, spiny, gorse like shrub. All the brooms and their relatives (including Laburnum and Ulex) grow in Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia. List of Partners (vendors). There are over 30 species of Cytisus, or broom plants, found in Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Then follow with controlled burning to prevent the plant from re-sprouting. Loves heat but protect from severe winter cold. Cytisus dislikes... Water. Helpful. Genista racemosa) is a familiar sight along highways and in disturbed areas of the west. Measure content performance. Push the whole lot into a pot a sandy potting compost. Their adaptability and rapid growth can lead to an invasive tendency in some areas. More Information; Botanical Pronunciation: SIH-tiss-us: Lore: The brooms are shrubs actually used to make brooms or "besomes" in the Old World. Invite this shrub to add a wildness to your residential garden landscape, and it will thrive throughout drought and cold for years to come. It is important to check with your local extension office before adding the plant or its relatives to your landscape to see if allowable in your area. Establish in well-drained loam or poor soil (clay, sand, or loam). Nice accent or informal hedge. Broom, Broom Plant, Sweet Broom, Scotch Broom, Yellow, Cream, Crimson, Brown-Red, Orange, Rose, Mauve, Lavender. Produces bright yellow, sweetly fragrant flowers in late spring. Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2020. The fruit is a red berry 1/2 inch in diameter. Pruning of Genistas can be more complicated. Prepare the soil so that it is easily workable and free draining. The bright yellow flowers have a pea-pod like appearance which yield to black or brown pods filled with dark green seeds in late summer. We do not recommend this plant for the Northwest. Establish in well-drained loam or poor soil (clay, sand, or loam). Stem shape separates the broom shrub varieties. Sweet broom performs best in conditions that would cause many other flowering shrubs to fail. Clip three-inch-long cuttings that are especially ripe and healthy in summer. The alkaloids, cytisine and sparteine, are closely related to nicotine. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden.