Waxen Woad Genista tinctoria
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jeh-NIS-tah tink-TOR-ee-ah
- Description
-
Dyer Broom is a deciduous shrub in the legume family native to meadows and pastures in Europe and Turkey. The shrub grows 2-3 feet tall with multiple stems and a spreading form. The shrub produces erect narrow clusters of pea-like yellow blooms from spring into summer followed by legumes similar to a bean. It has escaped gardens in parts of Canada and the NE coastal USA south to VA. with the potential to become invasive.
The Genus name comes from the Latin name planta genista from which the Plantagenet kings and queens of England took their name. Specific epithet means used in dyeing as a yellow dye can be obtained from the plant. The stems were also bound together as a broom giving it the common name of dyer broom.
Dyer broom prefers full sun in well-drained sandy or rocky soils. It is poor soil tolerant as it fixes nitrogen and tolerates drought once established. The shrub doesn't transplant well o choose your site wisely. Prune this shrub after the spring bloom to encourage further blooms into summer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but can be weedy and escape gardens to naturalize.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'nana'
Dwarf form - 'Royal Gold'
Garden of Merit award
- 'nana'
- 'nana', 'Royal Gold'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'nana'
Dwarf form - 'Royal Gold'
Garden of Merit award
- 'nana'
- 'nana', 'Royal Gold'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Genista
- Species:
- tinctoria
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fabric dye (yellow) and in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to West Siberia and Afghanistan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Legumes resembling bean pods mature to brown Aug. to Oct.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.5-0.7 in. yellow flowers on erect, 1-3 in. racemes at the end of stems in spring into summer
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 0.5-1 in. alternate, simple, rich green leaves that are stemless (sessile) and elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate. Hairs present on upper surface.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- vertical, slender stems with limited branching and a few hairs
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
