Broom species

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer Give Broom the clean sweep Cape Broom (Genista monspessulana) English Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Flax-Leaf Broom (Genista linifolia) These Broom species are all classified noxious weeds. All the above species are similar in nature by having yellow pea like flowers, appearing around August September. By Christmas they form numerous hard seeds in pods and on a hot day pop the seeds out in their thousands. The seeds can last up to eighty years in the ground. They are mainly spread through slashing, water, and vehicle tyres. Broom can also be poisonous to stock. Brooms are native to scrub and open woodlands in the Mediterranean region, Europe, Portugal and the Azores. It was probably introduced to Australia as a garden or hedge plant and was widely planted last century. In Victoria, broom infestations occur mainly on grazing lands, roadsides, dry sclerophyll and damp forests and woodlands of southern, central and north-eastern regions. Once in infestation has taken hold it can potentially take up to twenty years to eliminate, so early detection is important. Small plants can be hand removed if the soil is soft enough, larger plants could be slashed before flowering and spray any re growth or foliar spray the whole plant with the registered chemical. Cut and paint with herbicide is also an option.