Broom, English broom, Scotch broom
Sarothamnus scoparius

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A medium sized shrub with many branches. It grows 2 m high and spreads 2 m wide. The stems are green and slender. These are green and photosynthesise. The leaves are small and scale like. It does not have spines. The lower leaves have 3 leaflets. The flowers occur singly. The flower standard is yellow and the keel yellow or red-brown. The fruit is a black pod. It has brown hairs along its edge. The seeds are hard and yellow-brown. The pods explode scattering seed.

Where it is found

It grows very easily in Mediterranean climates. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Denmark, Europe, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mediterranean, Poland, Portugal, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The tops have been used to flavour beer in place of hops. The flower buds are pickled and used as a substitute for capers. They are also added to salads and wines. The seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute. CAUTION: The plant including flowers and seeds contain cystisine a poisonous alkaloid which affects the nervous system.

Edible parts

Flowers, seeds-coffee, flower buds-flavouring, shoots

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds can live for 80 years.

Its other names

Local names

Ginesta, Ginestell, Navadna metla

Synonyms

Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link.;