Hairy greenweed, silkyleaf broom
Genista pilosa

Family: Leguminosae

What it is like

Genista pilosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It can fix Nitrogen. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Europe. Native range from southern Sweden to the Mediterranean; in dry summer areas.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A good high density groundcover. Nitrogen Fixer. Location: Border, Ground Cover, Mass Planting, Rock Garden, Wildlife Garden, Woodland Garden. Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

Evergreen prostrate perennial (mostly) to erect shrub. Flowers, golden-yellow, cover the plants in late spring to early summer. Poor, dry, sandy, and stony soils. Full sun or part shade and well drained soil. Soil pH: Acid/Neutral/Alkaline. Foot Traffic: Light. Drought tolerant. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from runners away from the plant .

Propagating it: Seed: Easy. Cover seed and germinate at 55-65F/13-18C. Chipping and soaking may aid germination. Do not transplant. Cuttings taken in summer, or by simple layering. Tip cuttings about 3-6 cm may be taken in mid-summer and rooted in a mist chamber or shaded frame.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 5-8

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Silkyleaf Broom, Silkyleaf Woadwaxen

Synonyms

G. decumbens Willd. G. repens Lam. Genistoides tuberculata Moench. Spartium pilosum (L.) Roth. Telinaria pilosa (L.) C.Presl.