Dwarf Yellow Broom

Dwarf Yellow Broom (Cytisus racemosus) is a light, airy shrub that smothers itself in scented yellow pea flowers through spring and into summer. It grows to about 1.5 to 2m tall and 1 to 1.5m wide, with an open, slightly leggy habit that suits a relaxed border or a big pot. It wants full sun, free drainage and a frost free position, and in return asks very little.

Why you'll love it

• Scented golden flowers. Yellow pea flowers smother the shrub from spring into summer, bringing colour while the weather is still cool. The fragrance is strongest in a sheltered, sunny spot.
• Tough in dry, poor ground. Brooms are hardy survivors. This one copes with poor, dry ground, loves heat and sun, and is happy in dry air.
• Slim for its height. At 1.5 to 2m tall but only 1 to 1.5m wide, it fits a narrow border or a large container without crowding its neighbours.
• Evergreen foliage. The green leaves stay on all year. The habit is open and a little leggy, so it suits informal planting rather than a clipped look.

Where it works best

Sunny borders and beds. Plant 1.2m apart so the shrubs just touch at maturity. Groups of three or five give a block of gold in spring, with lower plants in front to hide the open base.

Containers and courtyards. A large pot of free draining mix on a sunny patio suits it, and a pot lets you move it under cover if frost threatens. Against a warm wall the fragrance lingers in still air.

Growing Dwarf Yellow Broom in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the best flowering, though some shade is tolerated. This broom comes from the Canary Islands and needs frost free conditions, so it suits subtropical and warm temperate gardens, Mediterranean climates and frost free dry districts. Where frost visits, grow it in a pot against a warm wall and test its hardiness first.

Soil. Any free draining soil will do, including sand and poor ground. On heavy clay, plant on a mound or use a pot.

Water and feed. Mulch after planting and water well while it establishes, then it copes with dry spells. Feed with a controlled release fertiliser three times a year, adding a seaweed solution if leaves yellow on very poor soil.

Pruning. Trim back after flowering to keep it compact and encourage more flowers next season, taking only the flowered tips, because brooms rarely reshoot from bare old wood. Near bushland, also remove the seedpods before they ripen.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Dwarf Yellow Broom as tube stock (a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly), in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single 300mm pots. Tubes are the economical way to fill a border, and the larger pots give you a shrub with some shape from the start.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens
• More fragrant plants for the garden
• Plants that suit pots and containers
• A guide to creating a waterwise garden

Common questions

Is it frost hardy?

No. Many brooms are, but this one comes from the Canary Islands and needs a frost free position. In frosty districts, grow it in a pot you can move under cover.

Can it become a weed?

Broom species can self seed, and this one is not known to be problematic. If you garden near bushland, plant with care and cut off the seedpods before they ripen.

Is it safe for pets and children?

Treat it as toxic if eaten. Brooms carry alkaloids, and the seedpods especially should be kept away from pets and small children.