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French Broom Flower Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae

French Broom Flower

Genista monspessulana

Humility and purification.

Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Genista
Native to
Mediterranean region
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Evergreen shrub
Height
6-10 feet
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Poor, well-drained
Water
Low
Hardiness
8-10
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • French broom is one of the most troublesome invasive plants in California, covering thousands of acres.
  • A single plant can produce up to 8,000 seeds per year, and seeds remain viable in soil for decades.
  • Like other legumes, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, which can actually alter native ecosystems by enriching poor soils.
  • The Plantagenet royal dynasty of England was named after the planta genista (broom plant).
  • Broom pods burst open explosively on hot days, flinging seeds several feet from the parent plant.

Color meanings

0

Humility

1

Neatness

2

Abundance

Uses

  • Ornamental (in native range)
  • Soil stabilization
  • Traditional fiber