Cytisus scoparius
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-TIS-us sko-PAIR-ee-us
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Scotch broom is a perennial, deciduous, woody shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae) and is invasive in North Carolina and many other states. Georgia and South Carolina have designated it a noxious weed. Native to central and southern Europe, it was introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant in the 1800s. The species epithet is Latin for “broom.”
The shrub rapidly grows 4 to 8 feet tall and wide with a broom-like appearance and a rounded crown. It is short-lived but a prolific reseeder. A medium-sized plant can produce thousands of seeds per year. When the seed pods dry, they burst open, spreading the seeds over a wide area. The seed is then carried by animals and insects, such as ants, to further its spread. The seeds can stay viable in the soil for up to 20 years. Cutting the plant back, freezing temperatures, and even wildfires cannot keep the plant from sprouting. One method of control is to pull it up before it flowers and sets seed. Another method is to treat small seedlings with triclopyr herbicide.
Scotch broom has spread to areas such as roadsides, pastures, dry scrubland and other disturbed sites. It competes for growing room due to its resistance to drought, salt and poor, dry soil. As a member of the pea family, its nitrogen-fixing ability changes the soil composition, affecting other nearby plants. Scotch broom is not recommended for landscape use. Please choose a native or less problematic plant.
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Quick ID Hints:
- Pea-like flowers in late spring appear along green stems.
- Leaves are trifoliolate on the lower stem; there is one leaflet on the upper stem.
- It is a twiggy, mounded shrub with arching stems.
- The flowers are yellow or orangish.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to leaf and stem blight. It can be weedy and rapidly grow to crowd out native plants. The invasive nature of this plant will diminish grazing habitat and is also a concern for the increased risk of wildfires.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Burkwoodii'
Red flowers - 'Moonlight'
Less aggressive
- 'Burkwoodii'
- 'Burkwoodii', 'Moonlight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Burkwoodii'
Red flowers - 'Moonlight'
Less aggressive
- 'Burkwoodii'
- 'Burkwoodii', 'Moonlight'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cytisus
- Species:
- scoparius
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Erosion control. Fiber from the bark is used to manufacture paper, cloth and nets as well as to create dyes. Branches can be made into brooms, baskets and brushes and also in construction of thatched roofs. The flowering stems can be used to make a yellow dye while the leaves and young tops are used for a green dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southern Europe
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is pollinated by bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Its fruit is a 2" flattened pea-like green pod with hairy margins.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 1 in. glowing, golden yellow sweet pea shaped flowers bloom in late spring to early summer on old wood. Some cultivars have red, pink, or gold flowers. Rich yellow, pea-like, axillary, 1/2-3/4" diameter. They may grow as a solitary bloom or in pairs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate, trifoliate, bright to medium green leaves are not highly visible, blending in with the green stems. The compound leaves have 3 leaflets.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Mature plants have thin, smooth bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Evergreen, slender, multi-stemmed, 5-angled grass-green erect stems. Slender, green, ridged and twisted; older stems brownish.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
