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Annuals/Sweet Broom

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Expert: C.L. Fornari - 3/20/2004


Question
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Followup To
Question -
I just bought a plant named Sweet broom. I want to know the care of this plant. How tall it gets? How much water?  Does it need full sun? Etc. I live in San Antonio, Tx. DEBBIE.
Answer -
Debbie,
There are several plants that are commonly called Sweet Broom - does it have another name on the label?  Or a description?  I need more information before I can help you.  Thanks! C.L.  I think another word for this name is Cytisus Spachianus.

Answer
Debbie-
Thanks for the clarification!  Your broom (sometimes called Sweet Broom or Scotch Broom)  wants to be planted in well drained (sandy if you have it - if you have clay see if you can plant on a slope)  soil in a sunny spot.  Broom shrubs like low fertility so you never have to fertilize.  Right after it blooms, cut all the stems that just bloomed down by about half.  This keeps the plant full and bushy, not lean and lanky, but you must do it right after bloom before the new growth starts.

I love the smell of broom in bloom, and hope you enjoy yours too.
all the best,
C.L.

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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