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Scotch broom
(Cytisus scoparius)
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Background
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 Scotch
Broom is native to Europe and was likely introduced as an ornamental. It
spreads by seed and inhabits well-drained sites over a wide range of
precipitation regimes. Several commercial varieties of Scotch broom are not
considered noxious. Check with your local weed control superintendent to
determine if your plants are designated noxious.
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Description
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 Scotch broom is a woody
perennial species up to 10 feet tall.
Leaves are mostly trifoliate with
½ inch long, alfalfa-like leaflets.
Stems are strongly angled and dark green, with branches that spread only
slightly from the main stem. Flowers are bright yellow, pea-like, 1 inch in
length, and borne in the leaf axils during
June. Brown seed pods are smooth (except for hair along the margins),
flattened, and contain several beanlike seeds, which are thrown some
distance as the pods snap open at maturity. |
Distribution
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Scotch broom is widespread along both coasts and has been introduced in
northern Idaho primarily.
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Control
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Biological control agents (a
twig mining moth, a seed weevil, and a shoot tip moth) are available for
control of Scotch broom, but have not proved effective in Idaho. Herbicides
are available that can control this weed.
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© 1999 University of Idaho:
Text and photographs for these pages from Idaho's Noxious Weeds, by
Robert H. Callihan and Timothy W. Miller (revised by Don W. Morishita
and Larry W. Lass).
Please contact: Ag Publishing, University of Idaho, Moscow,
Idaho 83844-2240; 208 882-7982 visit the Resources for Idaho website at
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, for more information about this or other
publications.
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