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Scotch broom
Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius var. scoparius
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Scotch Broom: A Detailed Overview
This page provides comprehensive information about Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), a plant known for its distinctive appearance and ecological impact.
Considerations for Pets
- Scotch broom is a shrub with sharply angled branches.
- It produces seed pods.
Considerations for Children
- Scotch broom is a shrub with sharply angled branches.
- It produces seed pods.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Cytisus scoparius
- Common Names: Scotch broom, Common broom, Scot's Broom, English broom, French Broom, Spanish Broom, broomtops, European broom, Irish broom, Scottish broom.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae or Pea Family)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Synonyms: Sarothamnus scoparius, Spartium scoparium
- Alternative Latin Names: Cytisus Genista, Chamaecytisus
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western and central Europe, particularly Mediterranean areas.
- Introduced to regions like British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, in 1850.
- Now found along the western and eastern coastlines of the United States and inland.
- Habitat includes open areas, ditches, meadows, and yards.
- Hardy to zone 5.
Ecological Role and Invasive Implications
- Considered a noxious weed in many regions.
- An alien invasive plant, it spreads rapidly and densely, choking out native species.
- Competes with native species for light, nutrients, and moisture.
- Was widely planted in Western Oregon for dune stabilization, but has since become a costly weed.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- 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.
- Evergreen (or deciduous, depending on the source) with an aggressive root system consisting of a taproot that may exceed 2 feet in length.
- Produces abundant yellow, pea-like flowers in axillary clusters in late spring.
- Fruits are black pods.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- A good bee plant and food plant for many caterpillars.
- Provides food for the larvae of the green hairstreak butterfly.
- Susceptible to the Scotch broom gall mite (an eriophyid mite).
Quirky Facts
- According to the BC Invasive Species Council, Scotch broom was purportedly used to pack whiskey cases for gold camps along the west coast.
- Scotch broom's fluted stem, unlike the Spanish Broom, which has ten sides, is a key identification feature.
Further Information
- Oregon State University, University of Idaho, and Washington State University provide resources (PNW 103).
- WebMD offers patient medical information.
- USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center has a species profile.
- Melissa Graves, MSU Extension IPM and Weeds Specialist, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.