Portuguese Broom Cytisus scoparius
Other 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 native to Europe. It was introduced in the US as an ornamental plant in the 1800's and has since spread to a point of being declared invasive on the West Coast and some midwest states. In the eastern USA it is listed as a noxious weed in some states such as GA and SC. It has spread to areas such as roadsides, pastures, dry scrubland and other disturbed sites. It has been successful in competing for growing room on dry, sandy soil due to its nitrogen-fixing ability.
A medium-sized plant can produce thousands of seeds per year. When the seed pods have dried they will burst open, spreading the seed over a wide area and can stay viable for up to 20 years. The seed is then carried by animals and insects, such as ants, to further its spread. Cutting the plant back, freezing temperatures and even wildfires cannot keep the plant from spouting.
The shrub will grow 4-8 feet tall with a broom-like appearance and a rounded crown.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect problems. Susceptible to leaf and stem blight. It is a short-lived shrub but tends to reseed itself. It can be weedy and rapidly grow to crowd out native plants. If plants are unwanted, pull them before they flower and set seed. Some non-seeding cultivars are available. The invasive nature of this plant will diminish grazing habitat and is also a concern for the increased risk of wildfires.
Quick ID Hints:
- Pea-like flowers in late spring along green stems
- Leaves trifoliate on lower stem, one leaflet on upper stem
- Stems have 'twizzler stick' appearance
- Twiggy, mounded shrub with arching stems
- Flowers yellow, or red, pink hues
- 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
