Common Broom
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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Common Broom | status = Conservation status: Secure | image = Cytisus scoparius2.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Fabales | familia = Fabaceae | genus = Cytisus | species = C. scoparius | binomial = Cytisus scoparius | binomial_authority = (L.) Link }}
Common Broom (Cytisus scoparius, syn. Sarothamnus scoparius), also known as European Broom, Scots Broom, Irish Broom or English Broom is a perennial, leguminous shrub native to northwestern Europe, where it is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. Common Broom is the hardiest broom, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°C.
Common Broom typically grows to 1-3 m tall, rarely 4 m, with main stems up to 5 cm thick, rarely 10 cm. It has green shoots with small deciduous trifoliate leaves 5-15 mm long, and in spring and summer is covered in profuse golden yellow flowers 20-30 mm from top to bottom and 15-20 mm wide. Flowering occurs after 50-80 growing degree days. In late summer, its legumes (seed pods) mature black, 2-3 cm long, 8 mm broad and 2-3 mm thick; they burst open, often with an audible crack, spreading seed from the parent plant.
It has been widely introduced into other continents, and is regarded as a noxious invasive species in many places such as California and the Pacific Northwest in North America, and New Zealand.
 Close-up of flowers |
 Illustration |
External links
- Bioimages - numerous photos
- Growing native plants
- U.S. invasive species info page
- Canada invasive species descriptioncs:Janovec metlatý
da:Almindelig Gyvel de:Besenginster fr:Genêt à balais nl:Brem pl:Żarnowiec miotlasty sv:Harris