Invasive Species Profile: Scotch broom

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is an invasive plant in the U.S., and we encounter it often on our restoration sites. It was brought here by Scottish settlers as an ornamental plant and has since spread across the country in gardens and wildlands alike. If left unchecked, the plants grow into dense stands which out-compete any other plants in the area, including our native plants. This creates a monoculture – an area of land consisting of only one type of plant. If you haven’t seen it for yourself, check out this entry for some before and after pictures of an area we cleared earlier this year.

Much like Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom is very persistent and requires maintenance after the initial removal. To remove Scotch broom, we use weed wrenches (see this entry for an example). Mature plants are firmly rooted, so it usually requires a lot of back and leg strength to remove them.

Scotch broom seeds can be easily spread without certain precautions. Tools, shoes, and animals can all carry the seeds from one place to another, unintentionally spreading the plant in a new area. Click here to see a map of the distribution of Scotch broom across the country.