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Spanish Broom Spartium junceum 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Perennial Life CyclePerennial life cycle
Winged FlowersWinged flowers
Yellow FlowersYellow flowers
5 Petals5 petals
Jun-Aug Flowering
period
Elongated LeavesElongated leaves
Smooth-Edged LeavesSmooth-edged leaves
Round StemRound stem
Tap RootTap root
250cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Spanish Broom
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Spanish Broom is a non-native invasive perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in roadsides, rail tracks and coastal areas, to a mature height of up to 250cm.

Spanish Broom has sweetly scented flowers and was introduced into the UK as a garden plant in the sixteeenth century. It exists in the wild as an 'escape'. In more recent times, its use for landscape planting next to new roads has accelerated its spread to new wild areas.

Botanic classification and naming: Spanish Broom is a member of the Pea (Fabaceae) family. The genus name 'Spartium' identifies the plant as a Spanish Broom and its species name 'junceum' means 'Rush-like plant'.

Concerns: Spanish Broom is a poisonous plant, with the toxins concentrated in the flowers and seeds. Spanish Broom exists in the wild as a garden escape. It has an invasive habit, growing rapidly, tolerating a wide range of conditions (including drought) and producing a large numbers of seeds. It forms dense bushes that preclude native plants and wildlife and provide fuel to support wildfires.

Benefits: Spanish Broom has root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These make atmospheric nitrogen available to feed the plant and enrich the soil.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Spanish Broom

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Spanish Broom usually flowers between June and August.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Yellow

Yellow

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Winged

Winged

Petals:

Petal Number =  5

5

Leaf of Spanish Broom

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Elongated

Elongated

Or:

Alternative Leaf Shape is Oval

Oval

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is smooth

smooth

Stem of Spanish Broom

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Round

Round

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap