Dyer Broom is a deciduous shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to meadows and pastures in Europe and Turkey. The Genus name comes from the Latin name planta genista from which the Plantagenet kings and queens of England took their name. Specific epithet means used in dyeing as a yellow dye can be obtained from the plant. The stems were also bound together as a broom giving it the common name of dyer broom. The shrub grows 2-3 feet tall with multiple stems and a spreading form. Dyer broom prefers full sun in well-drained sandy or rocky soils. It is poor soil tolerant as it fixes nitrogen and tolerates drought once established. The shrub doesn't transplant well so choose your site wisely. Prune this shrub after the spring bloom to encourage further blooms into summer. The shrub produces erect narrow clusters of pea-like yellow blooms from spring into summer, followed by legumes similar to a bean. It has escaped gardens in parts of Canada and the NE coastal USA south to VA. with the potential to become invasive. Use in a drought-tolerant or rock garden, naturalized area or on a slope or bank. See native alternatives to the left. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but can be weedy and escape gardens to naturalize. Potential diseases include fungal blight, dieback, powdery mildew and rust.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.