Summary ⁶

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a perennial shrub that can grow 7 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide. It has bright yellow pea-like flowers about 1 inch long that bloom May-July. Stems are slender, branched, grooved and angular. Leaves are trifoliate (three leatlets) dark green above, pale and fuzzy beneath, alternate, and 0.5-1 inch wide. Stems are commonly void of leaves and appear tangled. Seed pods are pea-shaped, flat, and 1-1.5 inches long containing small black seeds.

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/scotch-broom
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 177.

Identification ⁷

Height: 7 feet tall
Shape: Shrub
Flowers: Bright yellow pea-like flowers about 1 inch long that bloom May-July
Stems: slender, branched, grooved and angular. Appear tangled when devoid of leaves
Leaves: Trifoliate (three leatlets) dark green above, pale and fuzzy beneath, alternate, and 0.5-1 inch wide
Fruit: Seed pods are pea-shaped, flat, and 1-1.5 inches long containing small black seeds
Toxic: Yes, flowers are toxic
Root: Taproot 16+ inches deep

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/scotch-broom
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 177.

Origin/Habitat ⁷

Scotch Broom prefers dry, sandy soil in full sinlight.

Source:
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 177.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Jeffdelonge, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cytisus_scoparius_jfg.jpg
2. (c) Christy King, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Christy King
3. (c) Danny S., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cytisus_scoparius-0506.JPG
4. (c) Brook, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brook
5. no rights reserved, uploaded by Robb Hannawacker
6. Adapted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytisus_scoparius
7. (c) Colorado Parks and Wildlife, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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