Cytisus x praecox (Warminster Broom)

One of the brooms earliest to flower, Cytisus x praecox (Warminster Broom) is a dense, bushy, deciduous shrub with slender arching stems boasting a profusion of pale yellow pea-like flowers held in clusters. Incredibly showy, they literally smother the plant. The stems bear small, mostly simple leaves, 1/2 in. long (1 cm). After a brief appearance in spring, the leaves fall, leaving behind a bushy mound of gray-green stems which provide interest all winter. When in bloom, Warminster Broom is one of the most eye-catching sight in the spring garden. It is a fine choice for mass planting along slopes or hillsides. It is also effective as an informal screen or hedge, and one of the loveliest shrubs for lawn planting. Fast-growing, adaptable, care-free, it is drought, dry and poor soils, salt tolerant. Cytisus x praecox is a hybrid variety made from crossing Cytisus purgans and C. multiflorus.

• Grows up to 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm).
• Easily grown in any, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates drought, dry soils, poor soils and salt. Excellent shrub for gardens that get little watering.
• Great for banks and slopes, beds and borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, rock gardens, or city gardens. Can be grown as an informal flowering hedge.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for gall mites.
• Needs annual pruning to encourage strong, healthy shoots and improve flowering. Prune immediately after flowering. Remove flowered shoots back to vigorous sideshoots. Cut back one in three stems to ground level each year, but do not cut into old wood.
• Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer.