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Broom is an ornamental shrub represented by a large number of varieties, many of which are adapted for cultivation in Our Country. In landscape design, this garden culture is valued for the fact that it retains its decorative effect until the very frost. This quality allows you to revive the appearance of the garden in late autumn, when all the plants fade and shed their leaves.
What is broom
Broom (lat. Cytisus) is a shrub of the legume family. Some varieties and species are a small tree.
The broom is widely used as a deciduous crop, but evergreen varieties with small spines are sometimes found.
What does a broom look like
Broom (also Citius or Zarnovec paniculata) is an ornamental spreading shrub or tree that reaches 1 to 3 m in height. The shoots of the plant are smooth to the touch. The color of the branches of the broom is bright green at first, but then they become woody as the shrub grows. Some varieties are distinguished by a slight pubescence of the branches and grayish stains on the bark. Young shoots sometimes sag under the weight of leaves and flowers, as they are quite elastic.
The leaves of the broom are attached to the shoots with short petioles and are arranged alternately on them. Foliage color is bright green. Each leaf plate is represented by a combination of three oval lobes, and the leaves at the ends of the branches are especially closely connected. The length of individual leaves is on average 3-4 cm.
The color of the petals of broom flowers varies depending on the variety: these are purple, yellow or cream tones. Varieties with snow-white flowers are in great demand, and two-color varieties are also found.
Where does broom grow
Wild broom is found in Western Siberia, North Africa, Europe and western Asia. The greatest concentration of broom bushes is observed on light and dry soils, usually sandy or sandy loam. Also, wild broom develops well in places where limestone comes to the surface.
When the broom blossoms
Cultivars bloom in May, sometimes in June. In some varieties, flowers appear even before the shoots are covered with leaves.
Flowering lasts an average of about a month. First, the bush forms spongy buds, then the flowers open and become similar to bells. The length of the petals is 2-3 cm, large flowers are rare. They are located on the shoots not singly, but in groups, forming racemose inflorescences.
Since broom is one of the plants from the legume family, flowering ends with the formation of fruits, which are small beans.
How many years does a broom live
Depending on the variety, the broom has a different life expectancy. On average, this is about 10-15 years, however, there are specimens that live up to 18-20 years.
Broom in landscape design
Broom is planted in garden plots, but some varieties can be bred indoors. In terms of design, both single plantings of shrubs and group compositions of shrubs look equally good. If you plant bushes in a row, close to each other, you can grow a spectacular hedge from them. Near homogeneous thickets of broom, large irregularly shaped boulders look good.
The best neighbors for a shrub will be the following crops:
- coniferous plants;
- lilies of the valley;
- antennaria;
- lavender;
- juniper;
- weigela;
- heather;
- Chubushnik.
Very often broom is used to create rock gardens and heather gardens. Some varieties will serve as a wonderful decoration for sandy slopes. At the same time, in no case should shrubs be planted near water bodies with live fish – the substances contained in it can adversely affect the fauna of ponds and lakes.
Types of broom
There are about 50 varieties of broom. The most widespread in Our Country are the following types:
- coronary;
- creeping;
- crowded;
- early;
- .
These species are better than others adapted to growing in the climatic conditions of Our Country.
Coronal broom
Coronal broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a deciduous shrub with thin and fairly flexible shoots. The height of the plant is 2,5-3 m. In Europe, this is the most common type of broom.
The branches of the shrub are painted in reddish tones and slightly pubescent. The flowers are light yellow, small – about 2 cm in diameter. The foliage of the coronal broom is regular. The sheet plate is elongated. It is oval in shape. The fruits of this species are oblong, slightly flattened. Each bean contains 2 seeds.
The foliage of the crown broom falls early – this is how the shrub begins to prepare for winter. In landscape design, this species is used mainly for the design of rock gardens and solitary planting on the lawn.
Creeping broom
Creeping Rocket (Cytisus decumbens) is a plant native to Southern Europe. As the name implies, the height of the shrub is small – only 20-25 cm. The shoots of this species are green, pubescent and ribbed to the touch. The color of the leaves is dark. The leaf plate is oblong-lanceolate, covered with villi on the underside. In the axils of the leaves are paniculate inflorescences, which consist of many small flowers. Their petals are rich yellow, sometimes there are varieties with dark flowers.
The species is characterized by abundant flowering, which gives the plant an incredible splendor in early summer.
In landscape design, shrubs are used to decorate rocky gardens and group compositions in combination with coniferous crops.
The fruits of this species are beans 3 cm long.
broom crowded
Crowded broom (Cytisus aggregatus) is a low-growing shrub, the average height of which is 25-50 cm. The diameter of the plant can reach 70-90 cm.
The flowers of this species are bright yellow, small. Crowded broom varieties begin to bear fruit only 3 years after planting in open ground. What distinguishes this variety favorably is the excellent germination of seeds – more than 90% of the seeds take root.
Frost resistance of the species is average. It is better to grow it in the south of the country or in mid-latitude conditions, since at low temperatures annual branches can freeze over.
Early broom
Early broom (Cytisus praecox) is a medium-sized variety with arched shoots. The height of the plant is 90-100 cm, but there are also specimens reaching one and a half meters in height. The branches of this species are densely covered with rich green leaves. In shape, the leaf plate of the early broom is lanceolate, slightly elongated. The leaf length is 2-3 cm.
In appearance, it is a rather lush, highly branched shrub, characterized by a dense crown, but the shoots themselves are very thin and delicate. During shelter for the winter, they should be handled with extreme care.
Among other species, this one is distinguished by a rather sharp aroma of flowers. The shrub blooms in May, forming many bright yellow flowers collected in panicle inflorescences.
The species is unpretentious and grows on all types of soil, but it develops better on sandy soil. The advantages of this variety include good frost resistance.
In landscape design, the scope of the shrub includes solitary plantings, but it also looks impressive in group compositions.
broom
broom (Cytisus ruthenicus) in the photo is a medium-sized bush with upright shoots and bright yellow flowers. The height of the plant reaches 1,5 m, sometimes there are bushes growing up to 2 m.
The leaves of the variety are small, triple, like those of other types of broom. The shape of the leaf plate is oval, on the reverse side it is slightly pubescent. The size of the leaves does not exceed 3 cm in length. The color of the foliage is gray-green.
In the axils of the leaves of the broom there are small inflorescences from a group of flowers of 4-6 pieces. The flower petals are colored yellow.
On the territory of Our Country, this species grows in the wild in western Siberia. The bush blooms in May. According to the description of the broom, its flowering lasts 25 days. Sometimes the bush can bloom a second time in August-September.
You can grow this species both in the suburban area and in urban areas.
Varieties of broom
Varieties grown in Our Country bloom quite early. In May, the first flowers appear, and shoots grow until late autumn. This is the advantage of broom over many other garden crops – it retains its decorative effect for a long time, especially if it is an evergreen variety.
Boskop Ruby (Cytisus Boskoop Ruby)
Variety about 2 m high with beautiful flowering. The bush forms a large number of flowers in early May and is soon almost completely covered with them. The leaves of the Boskop Ruby broom are small – the length is only 1-2 cm, which is why ruby buds overlap the green mass of the plant during flowering.
If you look at the shrub from a distance, it seems that even its foliage has red tones.
Variety Boskop Rudy is frost-resistant, it is better to cover it in late autumn, before the first frost. To give the bush an attractive appearance, it is formed.
In landscaping Boskop Rudy is used as a showy solitary shrub, but it also looks good surrounded by dark green coniferous crops.
Albus (Cytisus praecox Albus)
This is a 1,2 m high variety that blooms in May. For the winter, he does not need additional shelter, but it is better to shovel snow to the plant, which will serve as a natural heater.
The variety prefers light sandy soils and is distinguished by compact forms. The shrub forms a dense spherical crown and looks good in rock gardens.
The Albus variety blooms with white flowers. Flowering continues until June.
Andreanus (Cytisus Andreanus)
The Andrianus variety does not grow above 1,5 m, the width of the crown reaches 2-2,5 m. The broom blooms in May-June. The inflorescences of the variety are dense, formed from many yellow-red flowers.
The shrub is unpretentious, it grows even on poor stony soils, its lighting requirements are high. In the shade, the Andreanus variety does not develop well.
Олголд (Cytisus Allgold)
Variety Olgold – an early flowering variety up to 1,5 meters high. The diameter of the shrub reaches 2 m. The leaves of the Olgold variety are light green, small. The flowers are yellow and fragrant.
The variety is classified as frost-resistant varieties that develop well in urban conditions. The preferred soil type for this shrub is sandy soil.
Palette (Cytisus Palett)
Variety Palette is a compact shrub with flowers painted in pink and red tones. Plant height 1,5 m. The variety blooms from May to June.
Holland (Cytisus Holland)
Holland is a spectacular decorative variety up to 1,5 m high. The shrub grows up to 1,5 m in diameter.
The flowers are pink-red, small. Holland blooms early – the first flowers appear in April. Flowering ends in May.
The advantages of this variety include immunity to air pollution and endurance. For the full development of the plant requires minimal care.
Бурквуди (Cytisus Burkwoodii)
Burkwood is an elegant shrub about 2 m high. It blooms profusely and grows even on poor soils.
The flowers of the variety are red-coral, along the edges of the petals they have a light edging of a golden hue. The flowers are up to 3 cm in diameter.
The advantages of the variety include drought resistance. He goes without water for a long period of time.
Conclusion
Broom attracts gardeners with its unpretentiousness and endurance. It is easy to take care of him, and he does not get sick often, especially if you follow the agrotechnics of planting and the basic requirements for the composition of the soil. The broom is watered only in hot weather, which makes it even easier to care for it.
You can learn more about the features of growing broom from the video below:
