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Bright yellow butterfly-shaped flowers of Common Broom on fine green stemsShrubs

Cytisus scoparius

Common Broom

broomdrought-tolerantsandy soilbee-friendlynitrogen-fixer

Common Broom is a cheerfully flowering shrub that becomes smothered in bright yellow, butterfly-shaped flowers in May and June. The fine, broom-like green stems give the plant an airy look, even in winter. Broom is especially suited to dry, poor soil and enriches the ground with nitrogen through root nodules.

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Before
After

Characteristics

Sun
Full sun
Water
Low
Height
100–200 cm
Spread
80–150 cm
Hardiness zone
5–8
Family
Fabaceae
Evergreen
No
Flower colors
yellow
Wildlife value
bees, butterflies

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in full sun in well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil. Broom needs no fertilising — the plant fixes its own nitrogen. Watering is rarely required; the shrub is exceptionally drought-tolerant. Avoid heavy, wet soils.

Pruning tips

Prune immediately after flowering by shortening spent shoots by a third. Never cut into old wood — broom does not regrow from it. Left unpruned, the plant can become bare at the base.

Good companions

Blooming lavender with purple-blue flowers in summer sunlightShrubs

Lavandula angustifolia

English Lavender

Lavender is a beloved herb with aromatic silver-green foliage and purple-blue flower spikes. This evergreen plant blooms profusely from June to August and is remarkably drought-tolerant, attracting butterflies and bees to the garden.

Full sunLow30–60 cm
Dome-shaped Lydian Broom covered in bright yellow flowersShrubs

Genista lydia

Lydian Broom

Lydian Broom is a compact, dome-shaped shrub that becomes completely covered in small, bright yellow flowers in May and June. The fine, densely branched green stems arch gracefully and form a tight cushion. The plant is ideal for rock gardens, slopes, and the front of dry borders.

Full sunLow30–60 cm
Yellow shrubby cinquefoil flowers in a sunny garden borderShrubs

Potentilla fruticosa

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Shrubby cinquefoil is a tireless bloomer producing an endless stream of buttercup-yellow flowers from June to September. This compact shrub is hardy to the coldest zones and makes virtually no demands on the soil. The fine, compound leaflets give the plant an airy appearance. Ideal for low hedges and borders.

Full sunLow60–100 cm