White broom
Cytisus multiflorus
A fast nitrogen-fixing pioneer shrub that colonises poor, dry ground and feeds neighbouring plants while smothering weeds. Short-lived, flammable when dry, and its seeds are toxic if eaten.
White broom in a syntropic line
White broom belongs in the Shrub layer as a Secondary nitrogen-fixing biomass species. Support species, fruit, and nitrogen fixers under the canopy. Rough in-row spacing starts around 0.7 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Carob tree, Common sage. As a Secondary species it carries mid-term yield and structure while climax trees slowly claim the canopy.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Shrub
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Sandy, Rocky
- Soil pH range
- 4.5 – 7.5
- Min. temperature
- -15°C
- Min. rainfall
- 400 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Iberia
- Native to Portugal
- Yes
How to manage it
Fast nitrogen-fixing pioneer broom for poor, dry, acidic-to-neutral soils; chop-and-drop regularly to build organic matter and keep it from going leggy and woody.
How to propagate
Sow scarified seed or take spring softwood cuttings.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Seeds and foliage contain toxic alkaloids (cytisine) - poisonous to livestock and humans if eaten; classed as invasive/weedy outside its native Iberian range; short-lived and highly flammable when dry.
Frequently asked questions about White broom
Is white broom frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -15°C when dormant, with medium frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does white broom need?
It does best on sandy, rocky ground, at pH about 4.5–7.5.
How much water does white broom need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 400 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can white broom handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — white broom has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with white broom?
Seeds and foliage contain toxic alkaloids (cytisine) - poisonous to livestock and humans if eaten; classed as invasive/weedy outside its native Iberian range; short-lived and highly flammable when dry.
Design your line to see how your land fits White broom.
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