The bright yellow beauty of this nonnative woody shrub belies the threat it has created to natural areas. Introduced to California from Europe as an ornamental landscape plant in the 1800s, Scotch broom escaped from cultivation in the early 20th century and spread north into Canada. The extremely invasive perennial has pushed out native species and upset the fragile ecological balance of wildlife habitats. It's included in the
along with related species French, Portuguese and Spanish brooms and gorse.
Botanical name:
Cytisus scoparius
Family:
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
Type:
Woody perennial shrub.
Size:
Reaches 10 feet tall and several feet wide.
Stems:
Long, upright, broomlike stems emerge from the base of the plant.
Leaves:
Fine, ferny foliage with three-part leaflets.
Flowers:
Clusters of fragrant pealike yellow flowers appear in May.
Seeds:
Green pods resemble flattened shelling peas with fine white hairs on the margins.
Habitat:
Found in lower elevations of open pasture, forest and hillsides in California and the Northwest. Well-adapted to dry conditions and poor, rocky soil.
Invasive:
The abundant pods fling seeds as much as several feet from the mother plant. Seeds remain viable in the soil for many years.
Control:
Pull out young plants by hand. Larger shrubs might need to be cut out with a saw or pruners. If a trunk is left, the plant will resprout.
Goats will eat broom and can be used in large pastures to help clear infestations. (They do not, however, eat the roots.) Goats can be rented for these projects. A couple of Oregon goat-rental firms are
based in Vernonia, and
in Damascus.
Note:
There are
that have few or no invasive qualities. These attractive relatives can be used with relative safety in home gardens.
Sources: "Weeds of the West," "Northwest Weeds," "Sunset Western Garden Problem Solver"
WANT MORE?
- "Help eradicate Scotch broom"
- Scotch broom and its relatives French and Spanish broom
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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