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Cape Broom
Botanical name: Genista monspessulana
Noxious Weed: Class 3
Photos: Ku-ring-gai Council Cape Broom seedlings after fire
Description
Also known as Genista or Montpelliar Broom. Originating from the Mediterranean, an erect woody evergreen shrub to 3m high with one main stem and numerous branches.
Leaves are small, bluish green & grouped in threes.Flowers are In clusters on the ends of the branchlets, very numerous bright yellow and pea-like, flowering in late winter. Produces a brown/black flat silky pod containing 5 to 8 hard, black and shiny seeds in spring.
Dispersal
Seed is spread locally when pods burst on hot day and carried by wind and water. It is also spread by machinery, and by garden waste dumping.
Impact on bushland
Common along forest margins and disturbed sites. Produces huge numbers of long-lived seeds. Like Scotch Broom, forms thickets, spreads rapidly and grows in any soil. Fire stimulates seed germination.
Control
Manual:
- Do not mow or slash.
- Dig out or cut and paint with an undiluted glyphosate-based product when pods are green.
- Hand pull numerous seedlings which will appear after treatment.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
Suggested alternatives
- Bush Peas (Pultanaea species) 60cm-4m
- Pea Flowers (Dillwynia species) to 2m
- Logania (Logania albiflora) 2m