Pacific North West Plants

Cytisus Scoparius

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Plate 348

Plate 349 Plate 350

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Cytisus Scoparius: Scotch Broom

This is an unarmed, deciduous, introduced shrub to the Pacific Northwest. The flowers are commonly yellow and 'Pea-like' but sometimes are showing patches of purple along the center of the blossom. The fruits are 4 cm black pods (also Pea-like) the two halves of which, when ripe, tend to warp in opposite directions, releasing the small seeds.

This shrub was introduced to Vancouver Island by Captain Walter Colquhoun Grant in 1850 who was a Scottish immigrant.

Broom seeds have been used as a coffee substitute, and the yellow blossoms have also been used in homemade wine. Take note: the Broom contains several toxic Alkaloids that depress the heart and nervous system. Children have been poisoned by eating the small, 'Pea-like' pods and seeds. The Anglo-Saxons sometimes used this shrub in bunches of twigs tied together, forming a 'Broom' .