Tagasaste

Cytisus proliferus

Food and housing for plants, insects, and mammals

Shrub5×4 mzone 9–11light shade

Profile

Family: Fabaceae
Habit: Shrub
Height: 5 m
Spread: 4 m
Growth: very fast
Lifespan: 70 years
First yield: after 2 years
Hardiness: zone 9–11
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt
Soil moisture: dry – very wet
pH: 6 – 7.5
Synonyms: Sprossender_Zwergginster

evergreensuitable for hedgesnectar sourcepollen source

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering
Fruit harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible5 of 10

Other uses9 of 10

Edible: Leaves (raw) are used in salads and as famine food, with a dry yield in New Zealand of 10–18 t/ha, equivalent to 3000–6000 kcal/m²; seeds (pods) have only been found to be used as animal feed.

Other uses: Plant (companion plant, green fodder, green wind and firebreaks, erosion control, soil stabilizer on steep slopes); wood (heavy, hard) (tool handles), firewood, charcoal. The plant is utilized as a companion plant and for erosion control on steep terrain. Its wood, known for being heavy and hard, is ideal for crafting tool handles, as well as for firewood and charcoal production.

⚠️ Hazards

Toxicity: slightly toxic

Despite being a type of broom, there have been no observed cases of poisoning from this plant, despite its common use as a grazing shrub for animals. Surprisingly, it may actually be entirely safe.

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

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