Broom - Cytisus scoparius

Description

Much branched erect shrub to 2 metres with angled slender green branches and no spines. Flowers golden yellow 16 to 18 mm in leafy spikes and scented; some forms have mauve, reddish to dark red areas on the flowers. Seed pod 25 to 40 mm black when ripe.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Dry sunny habitats, usually at low altitude.

When to see it

April to June.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Quite common nationally.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 124 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Broom
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
98
First record:
01/01/2007 (Harry Ball)
Last record:
21/01/2025 (Isabel Raval)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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