Genista is a genus of more than 144 species of shrubs and small trees in the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. They are native to open habitats in Europe and western Asia and may be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the climate. The common name broom is often used for some of the species but this name is also given to plants in the genera Cytisus and Chamaecytisus. The name Genista, is the Latin word for the broom plant.
Genitas range in size from prostate and dwarf to small trees up to 20′ tall. They have green stems that often give the plant an evergreen appearance even when the leaves have fallen, and may be spiny. The leaves are small and simple to trifoliate. The pea-like flowers are yellow, carried singly or in racemes from late spring to summer, and sometimes are fragrant.
Genistas thrive in full sun and light well-drained soil. They are drought tolerant once established and do well in poor soil because their roots are able to fix nitrogen. Plants are considered low maintenance as they do not require fertilizing or pruning (except to remove dead wood), and are generally healthy. Propagation is best by seed that has been soaked in warm water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat, but cuttings taken in late summer are an option. Genistas do not like transplanting so should be planted in their “forever home” as soon as possible. Some Genistas may become invasive in especially favorite habitats. Photo Credit Wikipedia
Mount Etna Broom (Genista aetnenesis)
Native to arid hillsides of Sicily and Sardinia, this deciduous shrub or small tree is a great plant for a place where you want height but not bulk, and minimum shade. A plant can reach 12-15 feet, casts little or no shade, and makes a superb “see-through” tree. Its sparse leaves are greatly reduced and gas exchange is carried on by structures in the slender weeping stems that look like leaves. The tree is hardly noticeable until it breaks out in bloom in mid to late summer and is covered by bright yellow pea-like flowers that are sweetly perfumed. Mt. Etna broom rarely reseeds and is not invasive. It grows quickly, is very drought tolerant once established and is a good choice for a xeriscape and use in a fragrance garden. Photo Credit Wikipedia
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 12-15′
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Spanish Broom (Genista hispanica)
Also known as Spanish gorse, or anlaga, this deciduous shrub is native to southern France and northern Spain where it can be found in scrub on open rocky hills. It grows up to 2.5′ tall and forms a dense mound of interlacing green branches that are hairy and covered with branched spines 3/4-1″ long. The dark green leaves are about 1/3″ long, and are located only on flowering twigs. Rounded terminal clusters of pea-like flowers appear in late spring to early summer. The clusters are about 1″ across and composed of up to 12 bright yellow flowers that have a ripe pineapple or ripe apple fragrance. Spanish broom is an excellent choice for a ground cover on dry banks and slopes, in beds and borders, cascading over rocks in a wall garden, and in a fragrance garden. Photo Credit Wikipedia
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 1-2.5′
Bloom Color: Golden yellow
Bloom Time: Late spring and early summer
Hardiness: Zones 7-9
Lydian Woodwaxen (Genista lydia)
Native to the Balkans, Turkey and Syria, this low growing shrub is evergreen in areas with warm winters and deciduous in areas with cold winters. Plants grow 1-2′ tall and are multibranched, with arching stems and open form. The oval leaves are up to 1/2″ long, pinnately veined, and spaced about 1/2″ apart. Clusters of fragrant bright yellow pea-type flowers 0’4″ long appear in late spring. G. lydia is tolerant of poor soil, salt, heat, and drought and is an excellent choice for a xeriscape where it can be used as a specimen or ground cover, as well as in a garden border, foundation planting, rock garden, or fragrance garden. Photo credit Wikipedia
Foliage: Evergreen to deciduous depending on winter temperatures
Height: 1-2′
Bloom Color: Yellow flowers
Bloom Time: Late spring
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Silky Leaf Woodwaxen (Genista pilosa)
Also known as hairy greenweed, silky leaf broom, and creeping broom, this deciduous shrub is native to central and western Europe from southern Sweden to the Mediterranean where it grows in dry, sandy and stony soils. The plant grows 12-18″ tall and usually has a prostrate habit and twiggy stems covered with fine hairs. The shiny leaves are 1/4-1/2″ long and have silvery hairs on the undersides. The bright yellow pea-like flowers are carried on 2-6″ long terminal racemes from late spring to summer. G. pilosa is an excellent choice for a xeriscape where it can be used as a ground cover, on a rock wall, or in a border or rock garden. Photo Credit: : Stefan.lefnaer, Wikimedia Commons
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 1-1.5′
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Hardiness: Zones 5-7
Dyer’s Broom (Genista tinctoria)
Also known as dyer’s greenwood, dyer’s whin, waxen woad, and and waxen wood, this deciduous shrub is native to meadows and pastures in southern Europe and Turkey. It grows 2-3′ tall and has a spreading habit with multiple branches that are slightly hairy. The green leaves are .5-1″ long, and sessile. Golden yellow pea-like flowers appear in erect terminal racemes from late spring to summer with sporadic blooming until fall. The flowers are attractive to bees and give way to elongated fruits containing 8-12 seeds that ripen in late summer to early fall. Dyer’s broom has been used to make a yellow dye, a green dye (with woad), and in herbal medicine to treat a variety of health problems. G. tinctoria is a good choice for a xeriscape where it can be used as a ground cover or in borders or foundation plantings as well as in herbal, medicinal, wildlife, pollinator, rock, and gravel gardens. Care must be taken, however, to watch for invasiveness. Photo Credit: H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 2-3′
Bloom Color: Golden yellow
Bloom Time: Late spring to summer with sporadic blooming until fall.
Hardiness: Zones 4-7
Karen Meyers