Broom in Bloom

At first glance, a scene of natural beauty; water, a beach and a drift of bright yellow flowers.
A closer look and the flowers are revealed to be Scotch Broom a highly invasive noxious weed.


In bloom at this time of year it is apparent how wide-spread the plant is. Fields, roadsides and vacant lots are awash in yellow. I have taken to carrying pruners in my pocket when I walk down to get the mail and cut the plants as I see them. At least we can keep our street free of broom. One plant produces hundreds of seeds and the seeds can lay dormant in the soil for 30 years. Yikes! Below: a brief history of the plants spread on Vancouver Island from Wikipedia.

Scotch broom is native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe. It was intentionally introduced to B.C. in 1850 by Captain Walter Grant who planted broom at his farm on Vancouver Island. Regrettably, few realized the invasiveness of this perennial as it quickly spread up the east coast of Vancouver Island before invading the Gulf Islands and mainland. Humans encouraged its continued spread as highway departments planted Scotch broom as a bank stabilizer because of its deep root structure and rapid growth. It competes with native species for available light, moisture and nutrients, especially on disturbed sites. So far there are no known natural predators for this weed, therefore allowing it to spread throughout southern B.C. and other parts of North America.