Scotch Broom

Cytisus scoparius

Pea family

Where is it from?

  • It is native to southern Europe and northern Africa.
  • It was introduced into the United States as an ornamental, and used later to stabilize roadcuts. Now, although responsible agencies recognize that broom is an invasive weed, many people have learned about it the hard way.

Where are you likely to find it?

  • Scotch broom invades roadsides, other disturbed areas, pastures and native grasslands.
  • Scotch broom is widespread in the Pacific Northwest. It occurs in California near the coast from San Francisco north and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
  • Broom is common along road corridors in portions of the Redwood National and State Parks. Patches have become established in the open grasslands on Howland Hill and in the Bald Hills prairies.

What makes it a "BAD" plant?

  • Scotch broom is a prodiguous seed producer. The seeds have hard coats enabling them to survive in the environment for up to 80 years.
  • The seeds are transported from place to place in mud stuck to vehicles, equipment, shoes and the feet of animals.
  • Seeds may be carried via runoff from roads into streams and gullies. Then seedlings may establish along streamsides and along gully walls.
  • Scotch broom forms dense brush fields over six feet tall.
  • The brush fields distract from appreciation of the natural landscapes of the Bald Hills prairies.
  • The brush fields diminish habitat for grazing animals, such as the native Roosevelt Elk.
  • Areas of dense brush shade out and kill native grassland plants in invaded areas, and favor invasion by other woody, non-grassland plant species.
  • Scotch broom is a threat to the integrity of the Bald Hills prairie ecosystem.

How do you get rid of it?

  • Pull out the entire plant, including roots. When the soil is moist, small plants can be pulled easily by hand. Winter and spring are good seasons to do this in California.
  • Larger plants must be removed with a tool such as a Weed Wrench (tm). Be sure to remove the entire plant. Broken stems re-sprout and are much harder to remove for the next person. Plants can be left where pulled.
  • Well planned prescribed burns in fall can further reduce the broom in infested grasslands:
  • Dense infestations of broom and infestations in the shade remain too moist to carry fire and will require pulling and some time to dry prior to a successful burn.
  • A head fire is likely to only burn the tops off of the broom, and the broom will survive.
  • A slow, hot, backing fire kills most of the broom. Some plants are consumed outright, and others are scalded around the root collar, later dying from the injury. Use of a backing fire reduces the need for laborious manual removal.
  • Prescribed burns in grass consume some broom seeds and break the seed coats of others, allowing pathogens to enter and kill the seeds. Still other seeds may be stimulated to germinate so that plants can be pulled out. Over time, regular prescribed burning may be expected to help deplete the pool of long-lived buried broom seed in the grasslands of the Bald Hills.
  • Other benefits of burning the park's native grasslands are 1)control of invading trees and 2)rejuvenation of grassland plants by comsuming dead thatch. The newly burned grasslands attract elk because of their greater forage value.

What can you do to help?

  • Spread the word about how this plant alters the natural scene, displacing native vegetation and degrading habitat for wildlife.
  • Discourage people from planting Scotch broom or allowing it to grow undisturbed wherever they live and work. Since broom will have produced many, long-lived seeds, well before it reaches its ultimate size, people may be unaware of its potential as a weed in cultivation.
  • Report all new sightings. If in a park, contact the park Superintendent. If in the Redwood National and State Parks, notify the Vegetation Management branch at the South Operations Center in Orick (707-464-6101, ext. 5282). Tell them about the location of the plants so they can be mapped for future work projects.
  • To become even more involved in control of this and other exotic species, sign up as a Volunteer in Parks (VIP).
  • CAUTION: Do not remove broom without permission in writing or direction from the private land owner, manager or, if on public lands, an agency official.


Last Update: June 12, 2001