Broom, Scotch Broom (cytisus scoparius)
SKU:
£1.15
£1.15 - £27.00
per item
Seed Prices
1 gram (approx 127 seeds) £1.15
2 grams (approx 254 seeds) £1.65
5 grams (approx 635 seeds) £2.25
10 grams (approx 1270 seeds) £3.75
25 grams (approx 3175 seeds) £8.00
50 grams (approx 6350 seeds) £14.50
100 grams (approx 12700 seeds) £27.00
Seed collected from UK regions 109 and 302
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Native to most of Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south to Spain, east to Poland and Hungary, this is a tough, fast growing evergreen shrub is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils at low altitudes.
This is the hardiest species of broom, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°C, +10°F (US zone 5) typically growing to 1–3m (3–9 ft) tall, rarely to 4m (13 ft), with main stems up to 5 cm (2 in)thick.
It is a member of the legume family, these shrubs fix nitrogen from the air. This characteristic enables them to grow rapidly on soils of very low natural fertility. They are often the first to colonise open ground especially after fire and can create the correct conditions for woodland succession to begin.
Eye catching when in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from late July onwards. Best suited to acid, well-drained soils and dislikes soils above chalk or limestone. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or in full sun, is drought tolerant and can grows well with maritime exposure and also under conditions of atmospheric pollution.
Seeds are viable for many years and do not have a difficult or complex dormancy period and are therefore relatively easy to grow. Full germination, sowing and after care information sent with every order.
This is the hardiest species of broom, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°C, +10°F (US zone 5) typically growing to 1–3m (3–9 ft) tall, rarely to 4m (13 ft), with main stems up to 5 cm (2 in)thick.
It is a member of the legume family, these shrubs fix nitrogen from the air. This characteristic enables them to grow rapidly on soils of very low natural fertility. They are often the first to colonise open ground especially after fire and can create the correct conditions for woodland succession to begin.
Eye catching when in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from late July onwards. Best suited to acid, well-drained soils and dislikes soils above chalk or limestone. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or in full sun, is drought tolerant and can grows well with maritime exposure and also under conditions of atmospheric pollution.
Seeds are viable for many years and do not have a difficult or complex dormancy period and are therefore relatively easy to grow. Full germination, sowing and after care information sent with every order.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Common Broom (cytissus scoparius)
Although Broom seeds have only a very shallow dormancy they have a very hard, water-impermeable seed coat and require pretreatment for successful germination to occur. Without pretreatment it is likely that 10% or less of the seeds will germinate. A combination of a variety of seed pretreatments is usually necessary to make the seed coat permeable so that the seed embryo can take up water and begin to germinate.
The first (and easiest) method is place the seeds in a heat proof container and pour hot (not boiling!) water 70-80 degrees Celsius over them and leave them to soak for between 12-24 hours. Seeds that have been successfully pretreated will have swollen to around 3 times their previous size. Remove all swollen seeds as these will be damaged by further pretreatments. These can be sown immediately. This hot water treatment can be repeated up to 3 times, making the water a little hotter each time. Seeds that remain small need to be dried for further treatment.
The remaining method is to physically breakthrough the seed coat by cutting or (k)nicking the edge of the seed with a knife or using a file or even rubbing them between layers of fine sandpaper. All of these methods can be used to break through the seed coat. Once you have done this soak the seeds in cold water for 12-24 hours and successfully treated seeds will have imbibed water and swollen greatly. Any that have not could be scarified again followed by another water soak.
Sow all the seeds, even those that remain small as they may germinate much later (perhaps years later), the seeds are very long lived and can remain viable in the field for 30 years.
Sow in pots or seed trays of good quality compost at a depth of about 2cm (just less than 1 inch) The seed usually germinates in under 4 weeks at 15-20°c. It is important that temperatures or not greatly higher than this or germination will be reduced.
The roots are delicate and seedlings should be individually potted up as soon as possible since plants quickly become intolerant of root disturbance. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise in late spring of the following year.
Broom tolerates (and often thrive best in) poor soils and growing conditions. In cultivation they need little care, though they need good drainage and perform poorly on wet soils.
The first (and easiest) method is place the seeds in a heat proof container and pour hot (not boiling!) water 70-80 degrees Celsius over them and leave them to soak for between 12-24 hours. Seeds that have been successfully pretreated will have swollen to around 3 times their previous size. Remove all swollen seeds as these will be damaged by further pretreatments. These can be sown immediately. This hot water treatment can be repeated up to 3 times, making the water a little hotter each time. Seeds that remain small need to be dried for further treatment.
The remaining method is to physically breakthrough the seed coat by cutting or (k)nicking the edge of the seed with a knife or using a file or even rubbing them between layers of fine sandpaper. All of these methods can be used to break through the seed coat. Once you have done this soak the seeds in cold water for 12-24 hours and successfully treated seeds will have imbibed water and swollen greatly. Any that have not could be scarified again followed by another water soak.
Sow all the seeds, even those that remain small as they may germinate much later (perhaps years later), the seeds are very long lived and can remain viable in the field for 30 years.
Sow in pots or seed trays of good quality compost at a depth of about 2cm (just less than 1 inch) The seed usually germinates in under 4 weeks at 15-20°c. It is important that temperatures or not greatly higher than this or germination will be reduced.
The roots are delicate and seedlings should be individually potted up as soon as possible since plants quickly become intolerant of root disturbance. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise in late spring of the following year.
Broom tolerates (and often thrive best in) poor soils and growing conditions. In cultivation they need little care, though they need good drainage and perform poorly on wet soils.
