Common broom

Profile

Family

Fabaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

2.7 m

Spread

3 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

12 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

very dry – very moist

pH

4.5 – 6.5

Flowering & harvest

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

Uses

Edible: Nerve gift! Alkaloid Sparteine resembles nicotine, stimulating the heart and paralyzing respiration. In high doses, especially the seeds can be deadly. The flower buds can be eaten raw or pickled in salt and vinegar as a caper substitute in salads. The tender shoot tips are suitable as a beer additive, being bitter and intoxicating. The roasted seeds can serve as a coffee substitute.

Medicinal: The level of sparteine in the plant can vary, leading to uncertain effects. It is advisable to use only the flower of the plant under expert supervision as it has a lower sparteine content. The flowers can be used to make tea or tincture to aid in heart weakness, angina, heart pain, vein conditions, and other ailments. Traditionally, drinking a cup of tea with 1 tbsp of flowers or 20-30 drops of tincture is recommended three times a day.

Other uses: Bark, paper, fabric, nets, dye yellow and brown. Branches for baskets, brushes, brooms, reed and wicker substitutes. Flowers for essential oil and perfume. Wood for table rims and veneer. Sand, dune, slope, and ground stabilizer. Insect magnet.

Growing

Thrives in most soils, preferring a good but not overly rich soil. Thrives in poor, well-draining soil. Tolerates slightly acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils but dislikes shallow soils over chalk. Prefers a sunny location but can also tolerate some shade. Plants excel in exposed conditions and are highly tolerant to seaside exposure. They have a deep root system, are highly drought-resistant, and thrive on dry slopes. Tolerates smoky atmospheres and grows well in polluted areas. The plants are hardy to about -20°C. Some named varieties have been developed for their ornamental value. New leaves emerge in April but soon fall off the plant as photosynthesis occurs through the green stems. Highly suitable for pruning, regenerates quickly from the base. Plants are typically killed by fire, but the seeds germinate rapidly after the fire and establish quickly. A valuable plant for bees and a food source for many caterpillars, serving as food for the larvae of the Green Hairstreak butterfly. Ants are attracted to the seeds, feed on the juicy appendage that attaches them to the pods, and thus disperse the seeds. The plant dislikes root disturbances, especially when larger than 20 cm. It is best to plant it in its final location as early as possible. This species has a symbiotic relationship with specific soil bacteria that form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant, but some can also be used by other nearby plants.

Propagation

Seeds are best sown in a cold frame in autumn as soon as they are ripe. Before sowing stored seeds, soak them in warm water for 24 hours, then cold stratify for a month before sowing in a cold frame. Seeds usually germinate within 4 weeks at 20°C. Seedlings should be potted into pots as soon as possible to avoid root disturbance intolerance. Plant them in late summer at their final location once they have grown enough, otherwise in late spring of the following year. The seeds have a long shelf life. Seeds can also be sown outdoors immediately in late summer and autumn. Cuttings of semi-ripe shoots, 4 - 7 cm with a heel, should be taken in August in a frame. They will root in spring. Pot them as soon as possible. Cuttings of mature wood should be taken in October/November in a frame. Stratification.

Notable

Features: Sand/dune/slope/soil stabilizer; Insect attractant; Harvest branches → Remove leaves → Steam stems until fibers can be peeled off → Fibers boiled in lye for 3 hours + then placed in a ball mill for 3 hours; Celts: Healing the effects of improper/unfinished magic; (witches' broom); Flowers used to be in beer, now in smoking blends; Sheep eat the branches as an antidote for snakebites.

Origin & habitat

Europe, from Scandinavia in the north to Spain in the south, and from Poland and Hungary in the east.

Bogs, moors, marshes, and wet heathlands on acidic soils, but plants are occasionally found in calcareous marshes.

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