Native Broom

Native Broom (Viminaria juncea) is an Australian native shrub built almost entirely from fine weeping green stems, with barely a leaf on a mature plant. It grows fast to about 3m tall and 2m wide, and in spring and summer the whole plant is dotted with small yellow pea flowers. Its real advantage is ground most screening plants refuse: damp, boggy, poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• It handles wet feet. Genuinely happy in damp or boggy ground, which is rare in a screening plant.
• A softer screen. The fine weeping stems filter a view rather than blocking it flat, so a boundary feels planted instead of walled.
• Fast to fill. Quick growth means a bare fence line starts working within a couple of seasons.
• Undemanding soil. Poor soil tolerant and coastal salt tolerant, so it copes with sandy, compacted or exposed sites.
• Native and bee friendly. The yellow pea flowers bring bees and butterflies through the warmer months.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a soft screen. At that spacing the weeping stems overlap into a continuous curtain while each plant keeps its arching shape.

Mass planting on damp ground. Use the same 1.5m spacing across a low lying bed, a swale or a dam edge, where most shrubs would sit and sulk.

Feature and coastal planting. A single plant reads as a fine textured green fountain, and salt tolerance makes it workable on an exposed coastal block.

Growing Native Broom in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade, with the densest growth in an open position. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, so most of coastal and southern Australia is in range. It is frost hardy, so cold southern winters are not a problem.

Soil. Almost anything, including heavy and seasonally waterlogged ground. It is a legume, so it does not need rich soil and should not be given phosphorus heavy fertiliser. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer while roots go down, then only in extended dry weather. A light low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring is enough, and often unnecessary on damp sites.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density, then trim lightly after flowering. Avoid cutting into thick bare wood, because it reshoots reluctantly and a hard cut can leave a permanent gap.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in five sizes: tubes, a 140mm pack of ten, a 200mm pack of six, a 250mm pack of three, and a 400mm. The multi packs are the sensible way to plant a screen, and small sizes catch up quickly because this is a fast grower. The 400mm suits one feature plant with immediate presence.

Young plants look sparse and wiry in the pot, which is normal for the species and not a sign of poor health. 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

• Browse the full Australian native shrub range
• Compare screening plants from 2m to 4m
• How to plant into waterlogged ground
• See more plants that attract bees and butterflies

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

1.5m apart in a single row. Because the growth is fine and weeping rather than dense, closer planting adds cost without making the screen noticeably more solid.

Will it block a view completely?

No, and that is worth knowing before you buy. It filters and softens rather than forming a solid wall, so choose a dense evergreen hedge if you need full visual privacy.

Why does it have no leaves?

Mature plants carry out most of their work through the green stems themselves. Seedlings show divided leaves and lose them as they grow, which is normal for the species.