Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link, Fabaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: jin que hua

English: English broom, Irish broom, Scotch broom, Scottish broom, broom, broomtops, common broom

French: genêt à balais

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Much-branched deciduous shrub up to 2-(2.5) m high; twigs glabrous, but sericeous when young, green, ± 5-angled. Leaves variable, usually ± glabrous above and sericeous below, and 3-foliolate and petiolate when mature or on older twigs; leaves of younger twigs often 1-2-foliolate and subsessile; young leaves often sericeous above and below but sometimes glabrous; leaflets apetiolulate, elliptic to obovate, usually acute, sometimes emarginate, 4-16-(20) mm long; terminal leaflet > lateral leaflets. Flowers usually solitary, rarely paired, axillary; pedicels (3)-5-13 mm long. Calyx glabrous, bilabiate, c. 1/4 length of corolla; upper and lower lips ± entire or shallowly toothed. Corolla usually golden yellow, rarely partly red or tinged mauve, 16-25 mm long. Pod black, oblong, many-seeded, 15-60 mm long, with hairy margins; seeds brown or greenish brown, ellipsoid, compressed, c. 3 mm long"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 646).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grass- and heathland, sclerophyll forests, riparian habitats, coastal scrub.  Where native, this nitrogen-fixing shrub grows commonly on heaths and wasteland.  Establishment depends on disturbance, the plant the forms extensive thickets that crowd out native species and affect wildlife.  It smothers large shrubs and prevents establishment of native species.  The shrub is flammable and may increase fire intensities in fire-prone areas"  (Weber, 2003; p. 135).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in pastures, ca. 610 m:  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 664).  In New Zealand, "waste places, scrubland, riverbeds, coastal areas.  Broom is a widespread and troublesome weed in many areas of New Zealand, particularly in less intensively farmed hill country and riverbeds"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 646).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:  Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m. Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall, short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month). Fully exposed to the sun, level areas or slopes facing north"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  "It produces large amounts of long-lived seeds and resprouts from the root crown if damaged"  (Weber, 2003; p. 135).

Native range:  Europe; Canary and Madeira Islands; also cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 481, 527, 553) Voucher cited: Danton I(5/296)1640. "Presente en un jardin del pueblo de San Juan Bautista".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 664) Voucher cited: Rock 3986 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Naturalized in cooler regions. An invasive weed in woodland and very difficult to eradicate".
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 184)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 646)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Belov, Michail (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control: 

Physical:  "Emerging seedlings can be hand pulled, sprayed or burned.  Cutting close to the ground may prevent resprouting.  Mature plants can be removed with a weed wrench.  Repeated prescribed burning is used to deplete the soil seed bank".

Chemical:  Chemical control includes applying triclopyr mixed with an oil surfactant to the basal bark just after flowering"  (Weber, 2003; p. 135).