Scotch broom oozes toxic substances into the soil that prevents native plans from establishing.

• Native to British Isles, central and southern Europe
• Flowers are yellow and pea-like
• Woody, 5-angled stems that can grow to 3 m tall
• Flat-hairy seedpods that start as green, but turn to a blackish brown color
• Grows in dry, sandy soils in full sunlight

• Is a serious threat to rare ecosystems
  • Forms dense colonies that crowd out native plants
  • Produces up to 18,000 seeds per plant
  • Seeds can remain viable to at least 30 years
  • Produces toxic substances that prevents other plant life from establishing
• Serious rangeland invader
  • Limits movement of large animals
  • Can lead to increased wildfire fuel loads

• Remove the broom before it flowers to prevent seed maturation
• Cut larger plants below ground level
• Smaller plants (stem girth under 1.5 cm) can be hand pulled
• Repeat treatment over a 3-5 year period
• Replant the treated area with competitive shrubbery