Taxon:  Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link



Summary
Genus:
Cytisus
Section:
Spartopsis
Family:
Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Genisteae
Nomen number:
13019
Place of publication:
Enum. hort. berol. alt. 2:241.  1822
Verified:
04/22/2015 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
41 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius (0 active accession[s])
Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  5. Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
  6. BernhardSmith, A. 1923. Poisonous plants of all countries, 2nd ed. Note: poisonous
  7. Bisby, F. A. & K. W. Nicholls. 1977. Effects of varying character definitions on classification of Genisteae (Leguminosae). Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 74:114.
  8. Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
  9. Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
  10. Conant, P. et al. 1997. Appendix. Selected plant species interfering with resource management goals in North American natural areas. In: Luken, J. O. & J. W. Thieret, eds., Assessment and management of plant invasions. 255-267.
  11. Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 141-142.
  12. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  13. Der Marderosian, A. & L. Liberti. 1988. Natural product medicine: a scientific guide to foods, drugs, cosmetics Note: poisonous
  14. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  15. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  16. Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
  17. Eriksson, O. et al. 1979. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 2.
  18. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  19. Farnsworth, N. R. & D. D. Soejarto. 1988. Global importance of medicinal plants (unpublished draft manuscript rev. 23)
  20. Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
  21. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  22. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  23. International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
  24. Jordanov, D. et al., eds. 1963-1982. Flora na narodna republika Balgarija. Note: = Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) Wimm. ex W. D. J. Koch
  25. Jovanovic, S. 1970-1977. Flora SR Srbije.
  26. Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
  27. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR. Note: = Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) Wimm. ex W. D. J. Koch
  28. Kumar, S & P. V. Sane. 2003. Legumes of South Asia: a checklist.
  29. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  30. Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
  31. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  32. Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
  33. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  34. Meyer, F. G. et al. 1994. A catalog of cultivated woody plants of the southeastern United States
  35. National Herbarium of New South Wales. 1961-1984. Flora of New South Wales. Note: natzd.
  36. Pammel, L. H. 1911. Manual of poisonous plants. Note: poisonous
  37. Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
  38. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  39. Peterson, D. J. & R. Prasad. 1998. The biology of Canadian weeds. 109. Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 78:497-504.
  40. Pignatti, S. 1982. Flora d'Italia.
  41. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  42. Sanjappa, M. 1992. Legumes of India
  43. Seed Regulatory and Testing Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.D.A. State noxious-weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act (updated annually).
  44. Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
  45. Smythies, B. E. 1984-1986. Flora of Spain and the Balearic Islands: checklist of vascular plants. Englera 3:1-882.
  46. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  47. USDA National Agricultural Library. National Invasive Species Information Center (on-line resource).
  48. Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
  49. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
  50. Zhu, X. Y. et al. 2007. Legumes of China: a checklist
  51. 1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
  52. 2018. Mid-Atlantic invasive plant species (on-line resource)
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbroom  1Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
Englishbroomtops  11961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
Englishcommon broom  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
EnglishEnglish broom  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishEuropean broom  1Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
EnglishIrish broom  11961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
EnglishScotch broom but this adjective is best avoided, may cause offence in Scotland1Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
EnglishScottish broom  1Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
AfrikaansSkotse brem  2Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
English (Canada)Scotch broom Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 141-142.
Frenchgenêt à balais  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French (Canada)genêt à balais Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 141-142.
GermanBesenginster  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Italianamaracciole  2International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Italianemero scornabecco  2International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Italianginestra dei carbonai  2International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Portuguesegiesta  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishhar-ris  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinesejin que hua  2Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeBelarus  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeLatvia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeLithuania  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeMoldova n.Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeUkraine w.Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeAustria  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeBelgium  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeCzech Republic  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeGermany  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeNetherlands  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropePoland  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSlovakia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSwitzerland  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeIreland  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeNorway  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeSweden  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyEuro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSlovenia  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance incl. CorsicaAuvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
2Cultivated    also cult.Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth Africa  Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapan  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia  Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
4NaturalizedEuropeEastern EuropeEstonia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedNorthern America United States  Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaWestern CanadaCanadaBritish Columbia Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii  
Native
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias]
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova (n.), Ukraine (w.)
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Greece, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Slovenia
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Portugal [Azores, Madeira Islands]
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa
Asia-Temperate
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Estonia
Northern America
  • WESTERN CANADA: Canada [British Columbia]
  • REGION: United States
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]

Reference(s)
  1. Auvray, G. & V. Malecot. 2013. A revision of Cytisus sections Alburnoides, Spartopsis and Verzinum (Genisteae, Fabaceae). Edinburgh J. Bot. 70:91-101.
  2. Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
  3. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  4. Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
  5. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  6. Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalerosion control Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Environmentalornamental Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Medicinessource of pharmaceutical agentsparteineDuke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinessource of pharmaceutical agentsparteineMcGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinessource of pharmaceutical agentsparteineFarnsworth, N. R. & D. D. Soejarto. 1988. Global importance of medicinal plants (unpublished draft manuscript rev. 23)
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Pammel, L. H. 1911. Manual of poisonous plants. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals BernhardSmith, A. 1923. Poisonous plants of all countries, 2nd ed. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Der Marderosian, A. & L. Liberti. 1988. Natural product medicine: a scientific guide to foods, drugs, cosmetics Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Vertebrate poisonsmammalsas Sarothamnus scopariusEverest, S. L. 1981. Poisonous plants of Australia. Note: as Sarothamnus scoparius
Vertebrate poisonsmammalsas Sarothamnus scopariusCooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: as Sarothamnus scoparius
Weedseed contaminantpotentialLazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Weedseed contaminantpotentialWeber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Weedseed contaminantpotentialHenderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Weedseed contaminantpotentialCampbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=13019. Accessed 15 April 2026.