Scientific name: Cytisus scoparius
Synonym: Sarothamnus scoparius
Family: PAPILIONACEAE
Common names: “Scotch broom” “Beesom”
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub, can be evergreen
Found in: Highly invasive from California to New Zealand, with a long taproot, Prolific in recently disturbed areas like clear cut blocks, fields, Garry oak ecosystem
Conditions:
Zone: 6
Light: Full sun – part shade
Exposure: Exposed
Soil: Poor acidic-neutral loamy sandy soils, fixes nitrogen
Moisture: Well drained – extremely drought tolerant
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 3-10′ W 10′
Leaf and Stem shape: Slender green shoots bearing small, ternate leaves
Flower: Axillary clusters of pea-like bright yellow flowers in late spring, seeds can remain viable for 80-100 years and have some measure of fire resistance
Landscape use: Used as a highway planting and ornamental in the 70’s, spreads quickly to take over recently disturbed areas
Propagate: By seed and cuttings, don’t do it
Pests & Disease: There are some introduced parasitic insects and fungal pathogens which have shown some results, goats eat it
highly invasive because there are a lack of natural enemies
Removal: Cut the big older plants out below the root collar, best done when in bloom before seed pods mature, if removing a plant which has gone to seed be careful and use a tarp to avoid sowing it around, pulling out large taproots is difficult and disturbs the soil usually bringing up old seed which would otherwise be suppressed, only good to pull very young plants, goats are an excellent way to remove mature plants, mulch area to cover any seed bank remaining, if removed and maintained well native plants should move back in and reclaim the area shading out any more broom seedlings
*Do not compost any material with seed pods, only a very hot fire will destroy them, or take to the landfill – do not put in garden waste section
Comments: Traditionally used to make baskets, brooms, dye, thatch roofs, may aggravate hay-fever symptoms for some people
