Virginia Tech Dendrology

Scotch broom Fabaceae Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link symbol: CYSC4
Leaf: Alternate, palmately compound, 3 leaflets, entire leaf 1/2 to 1 inch across, dark green above, paler and fuzzy below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; large, 1 inch long, pea-like and bright yellow, appearing in late spring and early summer.
Fruit: Flat pods 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, fuzzy edges, brown when ripe in late summer.
Twig: Slender, green, angled and grooved, tips often die back; buds very small.
Bark: Greenish brown, smooth but becoming shallowly fissured with lighter strips.
Form: Large open shrub to 10 feet, often looking tangled.

Additional Range Information: Cytisus scoparius is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information