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Dyer's Whin Genista tinctoria

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', 'Royal Gold'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#well-drained soil#nitrogen fixation#dye plant#poor soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#perennial#weed#sandy soil
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'nana'
    Dwarf form
  • 'Royal Gold'
    Garden of Merit award
'nana', 'Royal Gold'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#well-drained soil#nitrogen fixation#dye plant#poor soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#perennial#weed#sandy soil
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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