White weeping broom
Retama monosperma
A fast, almost leafless coastal broom that fixes nitrogen and anchors loose sand - a scrappy pioneer nurse plant, but it's toxic and invasive, so treat it as strictly temporary.
White weeping broom in a syntropic line
White weeping broom belongs in the Shrub layer as a Secondary nitrogen-fixing species. Support species, fruit, and nitrogen fixers under the canopy. Rough in-row spacing starts around 1.5 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
- 6 – 9
- Min. temperature
- -6°C
- Min. rainfall
- 300 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- Low
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Mediterranean
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Use as a short-lived coastal nurse and nitrogen-fixing pioneer on poor sand; cut back periodically but don't expect heavy mulch volume since stems are sparse and leafless.
How to propagate
Sow seed in spring (scarify first) or take softwood cuttings in early summer.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Seeds and foliage are toxic to livestock and humans; classed as invasive on dunes and coastal scrub outside its native range (e.g. Australia, California) - avoid near wild coastal habitat and remove once canopy species establish.
Frequently asked questions about White weeping broom
Is white weeping broom frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -6°C when dormant, with low frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does white weeping broom need?
It does best on sandy, rocky ground, at pH about 6–9.
How much water does white weeping broom need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 300 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can white weeping broom handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — white weeping broom has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with white weeping broom?
Seeds and foliage are toxic to livestock and humans; classed as invasive on dunes and coastal scrub outside its native range (e.g. Australia, California) - avoid near wild coastal habitat and remove once canopy species establish.
White weeping broom in soil templates
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