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Broom is an ornamental shrub, represented by a large number of varieties, many of which are adapted for cultivation in Russia. In landscape design, this garden crop is valued for the fact that it retains its decorative value until frost. This quality allows you to revitalize the appearance of the garden in late autumn, when all the plants fade and shed their leaves.
What is broom
Broom (lat. Cytisus) is a shrub of the Legume family. Some varieties and species are small trees.
Broom is widely used as a deciduous crop, but sometimes evergreen varieties with small spines are also found.
What does broom look like?
Broom (also Citius or Zharnovets paniculata) is an ornamental spreading shrub or tree that reaches 1 to 3 m in height. The shoots of the plant are smooth to the touch. The color of broom branches is initially bright green, but then they become woody as the bush grows. Some varieties are distinguished by slight pubescence of branches and grayish stains on the bark. Young shoots sometimes bend under the weight of leaves and flowers, as they are quite elastic.
The leaves of broom are attached to the shoots by short petioles and are arranged alternately on them. The foliage color is bright green. Each leaf blade is represented by a combination of three oval lobes, with the leaves at the ends of the branches being especially closely connected. The length of individual leaves is on average 3-4 cm.
The color of the petals of broom flowers varies depending on the variety: they are purple, yellow or cream tones. Varieties with snow-white flowers are in great demand, and two-color varieties are also found.
Where does broom grow?
Wild broom is found in Western Siberia, North Africa, Europe and western Asia. The highest concentration of broom bushes is observed on light and dry soils, usually sandy or sandy loam. Wild broom also grows well in places where limestone comes to the surface.
When does broom bloom?
Cultivated varieties bloom in May, sometimes in June.In some varieties, flowers appear even before the shoots are covered with leaves.
Flowering lasts on average about a month. First, the bush forms sponge-shaped buds, then the flowers open and take on a resemblance to bells. The length of the petals is 2-3 cm, large flowers are rare. They are located on the shoots not singly, but in groups, forming racemose inflorescences.
Since broom is a plant from the Legume family, flowering ends with the formation of fruits, which are small beans.
How many years does broom live?
Depending on the variety, broom has a different life expectancy. On average, this is about 10-15 years, but there are specimens that live up to 18-20 years.
Broom in landscape design
Broom is planted in garden plots, but some varieties can also be grown indoors. In terms of design, both single plantings of shrubs and group compositions of shrubs look equally good. If you plant the bushes in a row, close to each other, they can be used to grow a spectacular hedge. Large, irregularly shaped boulders look good near homogeneous broom thickets.
The best neighbors for the shrub will be the following crops:
- coniferous plants;
- lilies of the valley;
- antennary;
- lavender;
- juniper;
- weigela;
- heather;
- mock orange
Very often, broom is used to create rock gardens and heather gardens. Some varieties will serve as an excellent decoration for sandy slopes. At the same time, under no circumstances should shrubs be planted near bodies of water with live fish - the substances it contains can negatively affect the fauna of ponds and lakes.
Types of broom
There are about 50 varieties of broom. The most widespread types in Russia are:
- coronary;
- creeping;
- crowded;
- early;
- Russian.
These species are better adapted than others to growing in the climatic conditions of Russia.
broom
Crown broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a deciduous shrub with thin and fairly flexible shoots. The height of the plant is 2.5-3 m. In Europe, this is the most common type of broom.
The branches of the bush are colored in reddish tones and are slightly pubescent. The flowers are light yellow, small - about 2 cm in diameter. The foliage of the broom is alternate. The leaf blade is elongated. It is oval in shape. The fruits of this species are oblong, slightly flattened. Each bean contains 2 seeds.
The foliage of the broom falls early - this is how the bush begins to prepare for winter. In landscape design, this type is used mainly for designing rock gardens and solitaire planting on the lawn.
creeping broom
Creeping broom (Cytisus decumbens) is a plant native to Southern Europe. As the name suggests, the height of the shrub is small - only 20-25 cm. The shoots of this species are green, pubescent and ribbed to the touch. The leaf color is dark. The leaf blade is oblong-lanceolate, covered with villi on the underside. In the axils of the leaves there are paniculate-type inflorescences, which consist of many small flowers.Their petals are rich yellow, and sometimes there are varieties with dark flowers.
The species is characterized by abundant flowering, which gives the plant incredible lushness at the beginning of summer.
In landscape design, shrubs are used to design rocky gardens and group compositions in combination with coniferous crops.
The fruits of this species are beans 3 cm long.
Broom crowded
Crowded broom (Cytisus aggregatus) is a low-growing shrub, the average height of which is 25-50 cm. The diameter of the plant can reach 70-90 cm.
The flowers of this species are bright yellow and small. Crowded broom varieties begin to bear fruit only 3 years after planting in open ground. What makes this variety stand out is its excellent seed germination - more than 90% of the seeds take root.
The frost resistance of the species is average. It is better to grow it in the south of the country or in mid-latitude conditions, since at low temperatures its annual branches may freeze.
Early broom
Early broom (Cytisus praecox) is a medium-sized variety with arched shoots. The height of the plant is 90-100 cm, but there are also specimens reaching one and a half meters in height. The branches of this species are densely covered with rich green leaves. The leaf blade of early broom is lanceolate in shape, slightly elongated. The leaf length is 2-3 cm.
In appearance, it is a rather lush, highly branched shrub, characterized by a dense crown, but the shoots themselves are very thin and delicate. When sheltering for the winter, they should be handled with extreme caution.
Among other species, this one has a rather pungent aroma of flowers.The shrub blooms in May, forming many bright yellow flowers collected in panicle inflorescences.
The species is unpretentious and grows on all types of soil, but it develops better on sandy soil. The advantages of this variety include good frost resistance.
In landscape design, the scope of application of the shrub includes solitary plantings, but it also looks impressive in group compositions.
Russian broom
Russian broom (Cytisus ruthenicus) in the photo is a medium-sized bush with erect shoots and bright yellow flowers. The height of the plant reaches 1.5 m, sometimes there are bushes growing up to 2 m.
The leaves of the variety are small, triple, like other types of broom. The shape of the leaf blade is oval, on the reverse side it is slightly pubescent. The leaf sizes do not exceed 3 cm in length. The foliage color is gray-green.
In the axils of the leaves of the Russian broom there are small inflorescences from a group of flowers of 4-6 pieces. The flower petals are colored yellow.
In Russia, this species grows wild in western Siberia. The bush blooms in May. According to the description of the Russian broom, its flowering lasts 25 days. Sometimes the bush can bloom a second time in August-September.
This species can be grown both in a summer cottage and in urban areas.
Broom varieties
Varieties grown in Russia bloom quite early. The first flowers appear in May, and shoots grow until late autumn. This is the advantage of broom over many other garden crops - it retains its decorative effect for a long time, especially if it is an evergreen variety.
Cytisus Boskoop Ruby
The variety is about 2 m high with beautiful flowering. The bush produces a large number of flowers in early May and is soon almost completely covered with them. The leaves of the Boskop Ruby broom are small - the length is only 1-2 cm, which is why during flowering the ruby buds cover the green mass of the plant.
If you look at the bush from a distance, you get the impression that even its foliage is red in color.
The Boskop Rudi variety is frost-resistant; it is better to cover it in late autumn, before the first frost. To give the bush an attractive appearance, it is shaped.
In landscape design, Boskop Rudi is used as a spectacular solitary shrub, but it also looks advantageous surrounded by dark green conifers.
Albus (Cytisus praecox Albus)
This is a 1.2 m tall variety that blooms in May. For the winter, it does not need additional shelter, but it is better to rake snow to the plant, which will serve as a natural insulation.
The variety prefers light sandy soils and has a compact shape. The shrub forms a dense spherical crown and looks good as part of rock gardens.
The Albus variety blooms with white flowers. Flowering continues until June.
Andreanus (Cytisus Andreanus)
The Andreanus variety does not grow higher than 1.5 m, the crown width reaches 2-2.5 m. Broom blooms in May-June. The inflorescences of the variety are dense, formed from many yellow-red flowers.
The shrub is unpretentious, it grows even on poor rocky soils, and its requirements for lighting are high. The Andreanus variety does not develop well in the shade.
Allgold (Cytisus Allgold)
The Olgold variety is an early flowering variety up to 1.5 meters high. The diameter of the bush reaches 2 m. The leaves of the Olgold variety are light green and small. The flowers are yellow and fragrant.
The variety is classified as frost-resistant varieties that develop well in urban conditions. The preferred soil type for this shrub is sandy soil.
Palette (Cytisus Palett)
The Palette variety is a compact shrub with flowers painted in pink and red tones. Plant height is 1.5 m. The variety blooms from May to June.
Holland (Cytisus Holland)
Holland is a spectacular decorative variety up to 1.5 m high. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m in diameter.
The flowers of the variety are pink-red, small. Holland blooms early - the first flowers appear already in April. Flowering ends in May.
The advantages of this variety include immunity to air pollution and endurance. For full development, the plant needs minimal care.
Burkwoodie (Cytisus Burkwoodii)
Burkwoodie is an elegant shrub about 2 m high. It blooms profusely and grows even on poor soils.
The flowers of the variety are red-coral; the edges of the petals have a light golden edging. The flowers reach 3 cm in diameter.
The advantages of the variety include drought resistance. He can go without water for long periods of time.
Conclusion
Broom attracts gardeners with its unpretentiousness and endurance. It is easy to care for, and it does not get sick often, especially if you follow the agricultural planting techniques and basic requirements for the composition of the soil.Broom is watered only in hot weather, which makes caring for it even easier.
You can learn more about the features of growing broom from the video below:
