Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a large shrub often found on heaths, open woodlands and coastal habitats. Like gorse, it has bright yellow flowers, but it doesn't have any spines and smells of vanilla.
Useful info about Broom trees
|Latin Name||Cytisus scoparius|
|Height||Can grow up to 2 - 3 metres (7 - 10 feet)|
|Spread||The branches can spread out to 2 - 3 metres (7 - 10 feet)|
|Soil Types Preferred||Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand|
|Locations Suitable||Farmland, Gardens, Hedgerows|
|Flowers||Yellow flowers from spring to autumn|
|Fruit||Seed pods appear in summer|
Broom is an evergreen shrub growing to 2–3 m tall, with green branches and bright, yellow flowers from spring to autumn.
Broom is a member of the pea family and is commonly found on heaths, in open woodlands and along hedgerows. It can also be found at the coast. Its bright yellow flowers appear in spring, from April to June, and smell of vanilla.
Broom is similar to common gorse in size, shape and flower colour, but it lacks the spines and has short, flattened leaves and larger flowers.
During the summer, the hairy, black seed pods of Broom explode in the sun, producing an audible cracking sound while spreading their seeds.
It is quite likely that Broom got its name from the fact that its long, whip-like stems were cut and tied together to make brushes.
Any uses for trees or tree extracts, whether edible or medicinal, have not been tried or tested by EFORESTS.
Please take caution and seek proper advice before attempting any recipes or medicinal extracts from any of the trees listed on our site.
Culture and Symbolism
The brilliant yellow, pea-like flowers of Broom were worn in battle to give courage. Broom became a heraldic symbol of abundance and strength
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