No images found for this plant ID: 13613.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "13613" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
Scotch broom
Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Also known as Common Broom or Scot's Broom, Cytisus scoparius is a perennial shrub recognized for its bright yellow flowers, though it's often considered a noxious weed.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant has sharply angled branches.
- It can form dense thickets.
- The fruits are black pods.
Considerations for Children
- The plant has sharply angled branches.
- It can form dense thickets.
- The fruits are black pods.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link
- Common Names: Scotch Broom, Common Broom, Scot's Broom, English Broom, Broomtops, European Broom, Irish Broom, Scottish Broom, Spanish Broom, French Broom
- Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Synonyms: Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) K. Koch, Spartium scoparium
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western and central Europe, particularly the Mediterranean areas.
- Introduced to British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, in 1850.
- Now found along the western and eastern coastlines of the United States and has spread inland.
- Common west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains in southwest BC.
- Hardy to zone 5, but performs better in zone 6.
- Grows in open areas, ditches, meadows, and yards.
Ecological Role
- Considered an invasive species in many regions, including the Pacific Northwest.
- Displaces native and beneficial plants, leading to habitat loss.
- Spreads rapidly and densely, choking out native vegetation.
- Can curtail invasiveness by curbing self-seeding in heavier soils.
Morphological Characteristics
- Perennial, many-branched shrub.
- Typically grows to 1-3 meters (3-9 feet) tall, but can reach up to 4 meters (13 feet).
- Upright, deciduous shrub with slender, arching shoots.
- Sharply angled branches, generally with five green ridges and hairs when young.
- Showy, yellow, pea-like flowers in axillary clusters in late spring.
- Aggressive root system with a taproot that may exceed 2 feet in length.
- Fruits are black pods.
- Fluted stems.
Quirky Facts
- According to the BC Invasive Species Council, Scotch broom was used to pack whiskey cases for gold camps along the west coast.
- The Scotch broom gall mite, which is more closely related to spiders and ticks than insects, is a type of eriophyid mite that is nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- A good bee plant.
- A food plant for many caterpillars.
- Provides food for the larvae of the green hairstreak butterfly.
Further Information
- Oregon State University, University of Idaho, and Washington State University: PNW 103 Revised July 2008.
- WebMD: Patient medical information for SCOTCH BROOM.
- USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center: Species profile for Scotch Broom.
- MSU Extension IPM and Weeds Specialist, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences: Information from Melissa Graves.