Silkleaf Broom Genista pilosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jih-NIS-tuh pil-OH-suh
- Description
-
Creeping Broom is a ground-hugging deciduous shrub from Europe in the legume family. It grows to 1.5 feet tall by 3 feet wide with a mass of slender twiggy stems. It is covered in yellow pea-type blooms in late spring to summer and does best in well-drained poorer soils in full sun. Drought and poor soil tolerant as it is able to fix nitrogen.
Use as a ground cover on slopes, rock walls, in rock gardens, drought tolerant gardens, sandy sites and in mass plantings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- 'Vancouver Gold'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Genista
- Species:
- pilosa
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- Southern Sweden to the Mediterranean
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Flat brown legume matures in fall
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Yellow flowers on 2-6 in. racemes are borne on new growth all summer
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small shiny green leaves have silvery hairs on the undersides. They are .5 inch by .2 inch in size.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems with fine hairs
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
