Rachele Osmond, former Weeds Project Officer, Tamworth AcknowledgementsĪuthors: Michael Michelmore, Regional Weed Control Coordinator, Goulburn They are able to grow on a wide range of soil types and are able to flourish in areas with an annual rainfall over 500mm. They will also invade pastures and native vegetation. Scotch brooms often become dense on river banks, forest margins, roadsides and other disturbed areas. What type of environment does it grow in? They are smooth, rounded and slightly flattened. The seeds are yellowish-brown in colour to olive green. Each pod is up to 7 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, it contains 5 - 22 seeds. They are 2 – 2.5 cm long, occuring singly or in pairs,īrown to black pea-like pods have hairs that are confined to margins. The middle leaflet is up to 20 mm long, other leaves are somewhat shorter.
Leaves are shortly stalked, softly hairy with three leaflets per leaf. Its upper stems usually with five pronounced ridges and woody with numerous branches. Brooms are characterised by a long seed life, seedlings that take two or more years to grow to seed producing shrubs, and adult shrubs that may live for several decades. Hybrids between the different species may also exist. Scotch broom is an upright, evergreen shrub that grows to 4 m high but more commonly 1–2 m high. There are other species in this family that are similar in appearance and can be difficult to tell apart from the species covered here, such as flax-leaf broom ( Genista linifolia) and Madeira broom ( Genista stenopetala). Occasional flowers may be seen at other times.Īlthough germination and seedling establishment do occur annually, it is common for significant germination and survival events to occur in years following fire or soil disturbance. A second flowering may occur towards the end of summer and into autumn. Flowering mostly occurs from late winter to late spring. Plants are normally at least two years of age before they are able to reproduce. Seed can remain viable in the soil for many years. Seeds of these species have a hard coat that can delay germination for months or years, allowing large seed banks to develop. The ability of the plants to shoot their seeds some metres away allows infestations to thicken quickly and to spread, particularly along water courses. Their pods burst open in hot weather during spring and summer, scattering seeds up to several metres from the plant. Their main method of spread is now via seed by soil, water, machinery, footwear, stock and wildlife. Originally, both gorse and brooms were planted as hedge or ornamental garden plants. Record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
If going to a hospital take a piece of the plant for identification.If the patient is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately.If ingested in large amounts the toxins contained in scotch broom can weaken the heart. The seeds and leaves are poisonous and can cause high blood pressure and nausea if ingested. Scotch broom is toxic to humans and will cause discomfort and irritation, but is not life-threatening. They form dense thickets which can block access by humans and stock but harbour feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and pigs. Scotch broom will smother desirable vegetation which reduces pasture stocking rates. This plant must not be sold anywhere in NSW This plant is a Weed of National Significance
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