Broom
1 entry found.
Broom
Common Name: Broom
Botanical Name: Cytisus spp., Genista spp. (SY-tis-us, je-NIS-ta)
Decorative Life: 7-10 days.
Post Harvest Care:
- Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution.
Harvest Instructions: For propagation purposes, C. pracox roots should be stored at 20F for best results, will be killed at 15F.
Family Roots:
- Members of the Fabaceae or Leguminosae (pea) family.
- Native to Europe.
- Related species include clover, lupine, acacia, wisteria.
Personality:
- Small pea-like flowers occur along green, leafless stems.
- Stems are 16-20 inches long.
- Plant is a woody shrub, classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
- Flowers are fragrant.
Availability: Spring.
Flower Color: Mostly yellow, also white.
Storage Specifics: 34-36F, up to 5 days dry.
Tidbits:
- From the Greek "kytisos", the classic name for this class of shrubs.
- Species commonly used are Cytisus canariensis, C. monspessulanus (French broom), Genista hispanica (Spanish broom), C. scoparius (Scotch broom).
- Some species are troublesome weeds in areas where they have become naturalized.
- White species may be dyed pink or purple.
- One of relatively few plant species that can transform nitrogen from the atmosphere into a nitrogen form that plants can use as a fertilizer.