Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius
Common Name: Scotch broom
Family Name: Fabaceae
Origin: Europe
Hardiness Zone: Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen, Invasive plant, Shrub - deciduous
Mature Size: 1.3 - 2.0m x 1.5 - 2.0m (height x width)
Habit: Stiffly upright
Form: Round
Texture: Medium - fine
Landscape Uses: Erosion control, Medicinal plant
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Leaves: Compound, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pubescent, Trifoliate (ternate), Oblanceolate, Entire
Flowers: Flowers solitary, Yellow, May-Jun
Fruit: Legume, Black, Aug-Sep
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 symmetical, 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.