Common broom
Cytisus scoparius · Fabaceae
📷 Willow · CC BY 2.5
⚠️ Chiens et chats : graines et jeunes pousses toxiques, alcaloïdes causant troubles nerveux et digestifs graves. Humains : même risque par ingestion de graines.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around common broom and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Cytisus scoparius
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to May, golden yellow flowers
- Mature size
- 150 cm in height
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Down to approximately -15°C
- Origin
- Western and central Europe
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Broom doesn't handle transplanting once established—sow it directly where you want it or buy young potted plants. Good drainage is key; it rots in wet soil.
The common mistake
Pruning it after flowering into old wood: this creates wounds that never heal properly.
The pro's trick
To rejuvenate a leggy old broom, don't cut the old branches—sow seeds or collect basal shoots instead, which naturally refresh the clump in 2 years.
Care
Light exposure
Broom requires full sun exposure for optimal flowering and compact structure. It tolerates shade poorly, becoming leggy and flowering sparsely. Place it in a bright, airy location, ideally facing south or west.
Watering
This plant is highly resistant to drought once established. Water regularly during the first year to promote root development, then reduce watering. During dry summers, light watering every 2 to 3 weeks is sufficient. Avoid excess water which causes root rot.
Soil
Broom prefers poor, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic to neutral. It thrives on lean, rocky terrain where other plants struggle. Improve drainage by adding gravel or sand if your soil is too compacted.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune lightly after flowering (May-June) to maintain a bushy, compact shape. Avoid cutting too far into old wood, as this plant regrows with difficulty. Light annual pruning encourages branching and extends the shrub's lifespan.
Fertilizer
Broom needs very little fertilizer thanks to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (a characteristic of Fabaceae). A light application of compost in spring is more than sufficient. Overly rich soils reduce flowering and promote lush foliage at the expense of blooms.
Diseases and pests
This plant is generally robust and rarely affected by diseases. Monitor for excess humidity which may cause root rot. Scale insects and spider mites can rarely affect it in hot, dry conditions; good drainage and air circulation prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Broom owes its common name to its thin, flexible stems which were once used to make brooms. In the Middle Ages, this plant already adorned European gardens and symbolized wisdom. It is also a valuable honey plant, with its golden yellow flowers providing a real treat for bees in spring.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensis
- Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia
- Common PeaLathyrus oleraceus
- Honey locustGleditsia triacanthos
- Hairy greenweedGenista pilosa
- Strawberry cloverTrifolium fragiferum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.