Scientific Name:
Cytisus scoparius
Pronunciation:
SIT-uh-siss sko-PAR-ee-us
Common Name:
Scotch broom
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Plant Type:
Broadleaf evergreen, Invasive plant, Shrub - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Invasive weed; stems evergreen, angular; leaves alternate, trifoliate, leaflets oblanceolate, 1-2cm long x 4-8mm wide, pubescent, margin entire; flowers bright yellow, laterally symmetrical, very abundant in May-June; legumes 4-8cm long x 8-11mm wide, flattened, long white hairs when immature, maturing purplish-black. Winter ID: stems evergreen; trunk solitary, woody.
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
1.5 - 2.0m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Europe (Naturalized In BC)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low, Summer dry
Landscape Uses:
Erosion control, Medicinal plant (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Compound Leaf:
Trifoliate (ternate)
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Oblanceolate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Yellow
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Legume
Fruit Colour:
Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
long seed life
Bark Morphology:
Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Tan
Organ Modifications:
Root nodules (N-fixing)
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
