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Scotch broom
Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius var. andreanus
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Scotch broom, also known as common broom, is a well-known shrub often found in gardens and naturalized landscapes. However, its invasive nature requires careful consideration.
Considerations for Pets
- Scotch broom is a shrub with sharply angled branches.
- It produces black pods.
Considerations for Children
- Scotch broom is a shrub with sharply angled branches.
- It produces black pods.
Common and Scientific Names
- Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius
- Common Names: Scotch broom, Common broom, Scot's Broom, English broom, broomtops, European broom, Irish broom, Scottish broom
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Order: Fabales
- Synonyms: Sarothamnus scoparius, Spartium scoparium
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western and central Europe, and the Mediterranean areas of Europe.
- Introduced to British Columbia (B.C.) in 1850.
- Common west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains in southwest B.C.
- Found along roadsides in various counties in Nova Scotia.
- Grows in open areas, ditches, meadows, and yards.
- Hardy to zone 5, performs better from zone 6.
Ecological Role and Invasive Implications
- Considered a noxious weed in some regions.
- Spreads rapidly and densely, choking out native plants.
- Competes with native species for available light, nutrients, and moisture.
- Displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of biodiversity.
- Invasive in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Perennial, many-branched shrub.
- Typically grows to 1-3 meters (3-9 feet) tall, but can reach 4 meters (13 feet).
- Upright, deciduous shrub with slender, arching shoots.
- Sharply angled branches, generally with five green ridges.
- Showy, yellow, pea-like flowers in axillary clusters in late spring.
- Fruits are black pods.
- Aggressive root system with a taproot that may exceed 2 feet in length.
Quirky Facts
- According to the BC Invasive Species Council, Scotch broom was used to pack whiskey cases for gold camps along the west coast.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- A good bee plant.
- Food plant for many caterpillars.
- Provides food for the larvae of the green hairstreak butterfly.
- The Scotch broom gall mite feeds on the plant.
Further Information
- Oregon State University, University of Idaho, Washington State University: PNW 103 Revised July 2008.
- WebMD patient medical information for SCOTCH BROOM.
- USDA’s National Invasive Species Information Center.
- MSU Extension IPM and Weeds Specialist, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.
- BC Invasive Species Council.