Flower profile

Scotch broom

Cytisus scoparius

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a shrub in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Scotch broom is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

27states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

13,347U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Washington and Oregon. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Washington: Class B noxious weed (control required in listed regions); Oregon: "B" noxious weed (sale and transport prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{WAC 16-750 OAR 603-052-1200}

Quick look

Cytisus scoparius, the common broom or Scotch broom, is a deciduous leguminous shrub native to western and central Europe. In Great Britain and Ireland, the standard name is broom; this name is also used for other members of the Genisteae tribe, such as French broom or Spanish broom; and the term common broom is sometimes used for clarification.
From Wikipedia's article Cytisus scoparius, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Fabaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Washington and Oregon. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 7 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 5,542 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #26 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5,053 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #21 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,923 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Introduced	April–June	5,542
Oregon	Introduced	April–June	5,053

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Vomiting, excitement, muscular weakness, convulsions.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records scotch broom in 27 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Union, Washington, Yamhill.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Scotch broom a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 150
Annual precipitation range: 30 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 16 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Black · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CYSC4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 195 counties across 23 states; the most are in Virginia (51), Washington (29), Oregon (21).

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

More Washington flowers

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–September

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July

Broad-leaved sweet pea

Lathyrus latifolius

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CYSC4.
iNaturalist, Cytisus scoparius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Cytisus scoparius (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Cytisus scoparius (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: rebecca bachman via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.