Spanish broom
Spartium junceum · Fabaceae
📷 Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Graines et pods contiennent alcaloïdes. Chiens, chats, enfants : troubles digestifs, tremblements, ataxie.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around spanish broom and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Spanish Broom or Weaver's Broom
- Family
- Fabaceae (legumes)
- Type
- Deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub
- Adult height
- 2 to 2.5 m
- Flowering
- May to July, bright yellow flowers
- Hardiness
- Down to approximately −10 °C
- Growth
- Fast
- Origin
- Mediterranean region and Middle East
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Spartium loves poor, well-drained soils. Water sparingly after establishment and avoid rich or wet soils.
The common mistake
Trying to water it regularly or amending with rich compost backfires: it explodes with foliage at the expense of flowers and the roots rot come next winter.
The pro's trick
Prune hard in April (cut back by 1/3 to 1/2 of the height) before flowers open: this encourages strong branching and boosts flowering.
Care
Sunlight
Spanish Broom demands full sun to thrive and flower generously. A south or west-facing exposure, open and sunny for at least 6 hours a day, is ideal. In shade or partial shade, growth becomes weak and flowering nonexistent.
Watering
This is a very hardy plant and not demanding of water. Water regularly for the first year after planting to establish it well. Once established, it tolerates drought well and only needs watering during prolonged dry periods.
Soil
Spanish Broom tolerates poor, gravelly, and even chalky soils. It prefers excellent drainage and dreads stagnant moisture. Improve the soil with sand or gravel if your soil is too heavy or clayey.
Pruning
Prune after flowering (July-August) to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Remove dead or misshapen branches. Avoid severe pruning on old wood, which heals poorly. Light annual pruning is generally sufficient.
Fertilizer
Spanish Broom is undemanding and often thrives on natural inputs alone. A light application of compost or potassium-rich fertilizer in spring is enough to support flowering. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers that would favor foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Very robust, it is rarely affected by common diseases. Monitor excessive moisture which could cause root rot. A few aphids or spider mites may appear in very prolonged dry conditions, but without serious consequence.
Did you know?
Spartium junceum has been used since antiquity to make ropes and rustic fabrics: its flexible and resistant stems made it a valuable material. Its Latin name 'spartum' actually evokes this ancestral use. In the Mediterranean, it remains an indispensable companion plant in Mediterranean gardens, a symbol of resilience and beauty under the sun.
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
- Common broomCytisus scoparius
- Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia
- Common PeaLathyrus oleraceus
- Honey locustGleditsia triacanthos
- Hairy greenweedGenista pilosa
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.