Scotch broom
Cytisus scoparius
family
Fabaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.
Common names
Broom, English Broom, Common Broom, Spanish Broom.
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is an erect, deciduous shrub to 4 metres high, with 5-angled branchlets. Leaflets are narrow-elliptic to oval with the broadest part in the upper half. The terminal leaflet is longer than the side leaflets, 4-20 mm long, 1.5-8 mm wide with the tip sharply pointed or round. Young leaves are often silky hairy on both surfaces, but sometimes hairless.
Impact
Impact
It forms dense stands, which shade out the ground flora, and roadside infestations can also reduce drivers' vision and increase road maintenance costs. It commonly establishes in disturbed margins of native vegetation, from where it invades less disturbed native vegetation. Infestations also provide shelter for pest animals such as pigs and horses, which in turn pose a threat to native biota. It has invaded disturbed areas in national parks which have been cleared of blackberry infestations.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
It forms dense stands, which shade out the ground flora, and roadside infestations can also reduce drivers' vision and increase road maintenance costs. It commonly establishes in disturbed margins of native vegetation, from where it invades less disturbed native vegetation. Infestations also provide shelter for pest animals such as pigs and horses, which in turn pose a threat to native biota. It has invaded disturbed areas in national parks which have been cleared of blackberry infestations.
