Description
Genista – Chamaespartium – Echinopartum – Teline – Broom –
There are about 90 species of mainly deciduous, sometimes spiny shrubs and occasionally trees, which may appear evergreen because of their flat green branchlets, in this genus. They occur in pastures and moorland to cliffs and rocky places in Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia. They have alternate, simple or 3 palmate leaves, usually to ½” long, sometimes more, but may be nearly leafless. They are grown for their small, fragrant, pea like yellow flowers, held singly or in terminal racemes or dense heads. Grow as specimen plants, or in a shrub border or rock garden.
Grow in light, poor to moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun.
Prone to dieback, powdery mildew and scale insects.
G. sagittalis – Chamaespartium sagittale – Winged Broom – This prostrate, low growing, deciduous shrub from Central and Southern Europe grows 6-12″ tall and 36″ wide. From upright, broadly winged green stems that the plant an evergreen appearance, carry few oval shaped, mid green leaves, to 3/4″ long, with hairy undersides. In early summer it bears dense, spike like racemes, to 1 ½” long, of golden yellow, pea like flowers, ½” long, followed by silky fruit.
Zones 5-8
