Taxon:  Genista monspessulana (L.) L. A. S. Johnson



Summary
Genus:
Genista
Family:
Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Genisteae
Nomen number:
311106
Place of publication:
Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 3:98.  1962
Verified:
02/05/1987 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
6 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
  3. 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.
  4. Geerts, S. et al. 2013. Montpellier broom (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) in South Africa: an assessment of invasiveness and options for management. S. African J. Bot. 87:134-145. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
  5. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  6. Hawaii Department of Agriculture. 1992. List of plant species designated as noxious weeds for eradication or control purposes Note: = Cytisus monspessulanus L.
  7. 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 Note: = Cytisus monspessulanus L.
  8. Herrera, A. M. et al. 2011. Introduced populations of Genista monspessulana (French broom) are more dense and produce a greater seed rain in California, USA, than native populations in the Mediterranean basin in Europe. Biol. Invas. 13:369-380. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9829-1. Note: Genista monspessulana occupies disturbed sites and considered a highly invasive species; its success outside of its native range relates to high fecundity associated to seed production, and large seed bank
  9. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  10. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  11. Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
  12. National Herbarium of New South Wales. 1961-1984. Flora of New South Wales. Note: natzd.
  13. Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
  14. Polhill, R. M. 1976. Genisteae (Adans.) Benth and related tribes (Leguminosae). Bot. Syst. 1:355. Note: mentions
  15. Sheppard, A. 2001. pers. comm. via e-mail from J. R. Hosking on 6 Jun Note: re. distribution in Tunisia
  16. Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishCanary broom  1Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
EnglishCape broom  1Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
EnglishFrench broom  1Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
EnglishMontpellier broom  1Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
Englishsoft broom  1Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
AfrikaansMontpellierbrem as Cytisus monspessulanus2Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12 Note: = Cytisus monspessulanus L.
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria n.Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia not present in Tunisia fide Andrew Sheppard, pers. comm. via J. R. HoskingLock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusGeorgia   
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey w.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeFormer Yugoslavia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance s. & CorsicaGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal s.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
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 Note: = Cytisus monspessulanus L.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia  Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom   
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSouthwestern U.S.A.United StatesCaliforniaw.Herrera, A. M. et al. 2011. Introduced populations of Genista monspessulana (French broom) are more dense and produce a greater seed rain in California, USA, than native populations in the Mediterranean basin in Europe. Biol. Invas. 13:369-380. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9829-1. Note: Genista monspessulana occupies disturbed sites and considered a highly invasive species; its success outside of its native range relates to high fecundity associated to seed production, and large seed bank
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii  
4NaturalizedSouthern America South America s. 
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria (n.), Morocco, Tunisia (not present in Tunisia fide Andrew Sheppard, pers. comm. via J. R. Hosking)
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Lebanon, Turkey (w.)
  • CAUCASUS: Georgia
Europe
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily)
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France (s. & Corsica), Portugal (s.)
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Portugal [Azores]
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: United Kingdom
Northern America
  • SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [California (w.)]
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]
Southern America
  • REGION: South America (s.)

Reference(s)
  1. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
  2. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  3. 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 Note: = Cytisus monspessulanus L.
  4. Herrera, A. M. et al. 2011. Introduced populations of Genista monspessulana (French broom) are more dense and produce a greater seed rain in California, USA, than native populations in the Mediterranean basin in Europe. Biol. Invas. 13:369-380. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9829-1. Note: Genista monspessulana occupies disturbed sites and considered a highly invasive species; its success outside of its native range relates to high fecundity associated to seed production, and large seed bank
  5. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  6. Lock, J. M. 1989. Legumes of Africa: a checklist
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalboundary/barrier/support Geerts, S. et al. 2013. Montpellier broom (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) in South Africa: an assessment of invasiveness and options for management. S. African J. Bot. 87:134-145. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Environmentalornamental Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Environmentalornamental Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Environmentalornamental Geerts, S. et al. 2013. Montpellier broom (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) in South Africa: an assessment of invasiveness and options for management. S. African J. Bot. 87:134-145. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Weed in western USAHerrera, A. M. et al. 2011. Introduced populations of Genista monspessulana (French broom) are more dense and produce a greater seed rain in California, USA, than native populations in the Mediterranean basin in Europe. Biol. Invas. 13:369-380. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9829-1. Note: Genista monspessulana occupies disturbed sites and considered a highly invasive species; its success outside of its native range relates to high fecundity associated to seed production, and large seed bank
Weed potential in South AfricaGeerts, S. et al. 2013. Montpellier broom (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) in South Africa: an assessment of invasiveness and options for management. S. African J. Bot. 87:134-145. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
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
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=311106. Accessed 10 May 2026.