Although it is primarily found west of the Cascades, it has been found growing on the eastern slopes as well (Gilkey 1957). Its northern limits are probably due to low winter temperatures, the southern limits due to summer drought (Williams 1981). In the West, Scotch broom has now become established along the inland valleys of the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia to central California (Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973).
FRENCH BROOM RANGE US FREE
By 1930 the citizens of El Dorado County had become so concerned by Scotch broom infestation that they had an uninfested part of the county declared a Weed Free Area (Mobley 1954). Its weedy tendency in California was noted as early as 1925 in Sonoma and San Mateo counties (Jepson 1925). The rapid spread of Scotch broom was accentuated by frequent planting of the shrubs in gardens and as a soil binder along highway cuts and fills. By the turn of the century it had become naturalized on Vancouver Island (Bailey 1906) and was probably planted throughout the Pacific Northwest as an ornamental. It was sold as an ornamental in California in the 1860s following introduction of Spanish broom ( Spartium junceum) (Butterfield 1964). Scotch broom first became naturalized in North America on the East Coast (Mountjoy 1979) and is found in Nova Scotia and from New York to Georgia (Gill and Pogge 1974). Its upright dense mass of ascending stems were once cut and made into floor brooms (Wyman 1971). The common name "broom" may have been given to the plant because of its growth habit. Scotch broom: This broom is native to the British Isles as well as central and southern Europe. These pods are compressed, several seeded, with a callous appendage or strophiole near the base (Munz and Keck 1973). The pods, 2 2.5 cm long, are densely villous. In comparison, Spartium junceum has one lipped calices. The pubescent calyx, 4-5 mm long, is two lipped with short teeth. The mostly glabrous banner is ovate to rounded wings are oblong or ovate and the keel may be straight or curved. The light yellow flowers open between March and May. These racemes terminate short lateral branches, each raceme containing 3-9 flowers. They are subglabrous above, pubescent beneath.įlowers are borne in subcapitate racemes, unlike Cytisus scoparius. The leaflets are more or less obovate, entire and 1 2 cm long. The leaves are trifoliolate with petioles 3-5 mm long. These pods are compressed, several seeded, with a callous appendage or strophiole near the base (Munz and Keck 1973).įrench broom: Perennial shrubs, 1-3 meters high with villous branchlets. The brownish black pods, 3.5 to 5 cm long, are villous on the margins only. The flaring calyx is glabrous, about 7 mm long and is two lipped with short teeth. The glabrous banner is ovate to rounded wings are oblong to ovate and the keel is straight or curved. Unlike French or Spanish broom, the yellow flowers of Scotch broom are usually borne solitary in axils, blooming between April and June. The leaflets are obovate to oblanceolate, entire, strigose and 6 12 mm long. The leaves are trifoliolate with petioles 2 10 mm long. 1951) are strongly angled (Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973) and appear naked or almost so (Munz and Keck 1973). The shrubs are 1 2 meters high and deciduous. Scotch broom: Also referred to as Sarothamnus scoparius, this weed is a perennial shrub of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Scientific Names: Cytisus scoparius and Cytisus monspessulanusĬommon Names: Scotch Broom and French Broom It was introduced into the United States as an ornamental in the early 1800s. Cytisus scoparius is native to western and central Europe. It has been considered a pest weed since the 1920’s on the West Coast. Its nitrogen fixing ability allows it to compete successfully on poor, dry, sandy soils. Ecological Threat Cytisus scoparius occurs along roadsides, coastal sites, disturbed sites, pastures, and dry scrubland. The seeds are small and multi-colored, ranging from green to brown to reddish brown. (2.5-5 cm) long, and will explode when mature forcefully expelling the seeds.
Fruit Seed pods are fuzzy on the edges, 1-2 in. Flowers The flowers are bright yellow, resemble sweet pea flowers, and occur singly or in pairs in the upper leaf axils. The leaves are often not noticeable, due to the dark green stems. Foliage Leaves are small, alternate and compound with 3 leaflets.
The stems are five-angled and remain green all year. Scotch broom, Scottish broom, English broom, scotchbroom Overview Appearance Cytisus scoparius is a perennial shrub that grows on average from 3.3-9.8 ft.
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