But is sweet broom invasive? It was used by the United States transportation department to colonize disturbed roadsides after building trans-continental roads and to enhance soil properties but is now considered invasive in some regions. The plant was popular for its rapid growth and low sweet broom shrub care. This is evident in its bloom form, and also means the plant has the capacity to fix nitrogen in soil. Sweet Broom InfoĪ common bit of sweet broom info is its relation to the pea family or Fabaceae. In the proper space, growing sweet broom shrub will add a nice wild touch to the landscape and enhance the area with its scented blossoms. The plant grows quickly and produces a nice airy bush with drought and cold tolerance. While many people consider the plant a noxious weed, it is an attractive plant with its pea-like golden yellow blooms and bright green compound leaves. Genista racemosa) is a familiar sight along highways and in disturbed areas of the west. One of the more common, sweet broom ( Cytisus racemosus syn.
Do not spray plants with seed weevils.There are over 30 species of Cytisus, or broom plants, found in Europe, Asia and northern Africa. You can pop open a mature, brown Scotch broom seedpod to see if seed weevils are working. They can destroy up to about 80 percent of the broom seed inside the pods. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has released a species of seed weevil whose larvae feed on the developing Scotch broom seedpods. Scientists continue to investigate biological control possibilities for Scotch broom and other noxious weeds. You can be liable for injury or damage from herbicide use. Remember to wear protective clothing, read the label and follow instructions, and be cautious. If you are unsure about the use of herbicides, contact your county Extension educator. "Be careful when using herbicides to minimize drift and injury to non-targeted plants," Hulting warned. Avoid spraying when plants are blooming the flowers can prevent thorough coverage to plant tissues.
Several broad-spectrum herbicides, including glyphosate and imazapyr, can be effective in controlling Scotch broom infestations. Since Scotch broom seed lasts for years in the soil, vigilance is necessary to prevent reinvasion by new seedlings. Keep an eye out for seedlings each spring and pull them up, roots and all, while they are small.Cut it back to the ground each year before it sets seed.If you find Scotch broom on your property, Hulting recommends: The publication, Scotch Broom (PNW 103), which has color photos, identification information and control measures, is available online. OSU Extension recommends that you learn to identify Scotch broom and the other non-native broom species in the Pacific Northwest that have the potential to become weedy. "Native trees (such as Douglas-fir or red alder), shrubs (such as woods rose, currants and snowberry) and native grass mixes can help prevent and slow Scotch broom infestations." "Quickly re-vegetate disturbed sites with fast-growing, competitive native plants to limit Scotch broom spread," he said. Care should be taken not to transport soil that is contaminated with Scotch broom seeds. What can you do to control this noxious weed? Prevention is the best method, especially in areas where the ground and other plants have been disturbed by overgrazing or development, Hulting said. Scotch broom costs Oregonians an estimated $40 million per year in lost timber revenue and control efforts. "Its invasive habit and economic costs have landed Scotch broom on the State Weed Board's list of noxious weeds, along with its relatives French, Portuguese and Spanish brooms and gorse," Hulting said. The woody shrub establishes quickly in disturbed areas, according to Andy Hulting, a weed specialist for the Oregon State University Extension Service. Later it was used to prevent erosion and stabilize banks and sand dunes. Scotch broom was introduced from Europe as a garden ornamental by early settlers of the Pacific Coast. – Although admired for its yellow blooms, the Scotch broom shrub has become an invasive species throughout the Pacific Northwest, where it competes with native plants and forms dense stands that are difficult to manage and remove.
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