Genista racemosa

Large evergreen vase-shaped shrub in the pea (fabaceae) family with bright yellow flowers having a spicy-sweet fragrance blooming in early spring, and 1" long brown seed pods. Grows 6-8 feet in height and 5-6 feet wide. NOTE: The correct scientific and common names for this particular species are not entirely clear at this time. While Genista racemosa or Cytisus x spachianus seem to be the more commonly used scientific names for this species - and 'sweet broom' the most commonly used common name - name usage varies widely (see scientific and common names listed above). UC ANR states that "Plants commonly known as “Sweet broom” (Cytisus spachianus , Cytisus racemosus, Genista racemosa, Genista fragrans) are currently not known to be invasive. However, because of the lack of information on their potential for invading beyond landscaped areas, we do not recommend them as a substitute for other brooms." One site marketing 'sweet broom', states, regarding what they call G. spachiana: "Some believe that this semi-evergreen shrub is actually a naturally occurring hybrid between two Genista from the Canary Islands Genista stenopetalus and G. canariensis, but this is not confirmed." See additional more extensive notes below regarding the naming and marketing of this plant: Genista x spachiana is marketed by http://sol.koubachi.com/plant_types/389?locale=en as 'sweet broom', but whether or not it actually is not clear, and they list it as hardy in Zone 9, which doesn't match other sources that clearly list 'sweet broom' as G. racemosa. They list the following synonyms for this plant: Genista fragrans, Cytisus racemosus, Genista racemosa, Cytisus spachianus, Cytisus stenopetalus, Teline stenopetala, Genista stenopetala. As you can see, there are several names given there, of which G. racemosa is one. On the Dave's Garden website, a plant with many of these synonyms is listed as "Easter broom". A Dave's Garden site user noted that Easter broom is similar to Sweet Broom, which they refer to as C. spachianus. Another horticultural site, Monrovia (http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1317/sweet-broom/), sells C. spachianus as 'sweet broom', but states it is hardy in zones 8-10, while SF Gate (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sweet-broom-plant-care-37718.html) calls this C. x spachianus. Another site (http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Cytisus_spachianus.html) lists C. spachianus (without the x) as hardy in zones 8-12 and lists synonyms as Genista fragrans, Cytisus racemosus, Genista racemosa, Genista spachiana. The use of common names can really complicate things, especially when marketed with a variety of (sometimes wrong) species names. Tropicos does NOT list G. racemosa at all, nor do they list 'sweet broom'. Searching under the more common synonyms does not give much information than what was already found and documented. UC ANR states that "Plants commonly known as “Sweet broom” (Cytisus spachianus , Cytisus racemosus, Genista racemosa, Genista fragrans) are currently not known to be invasive. However, because of the lack of information on their potential for invading beyond landscaped areas, we do not recommend them as a substitute for other brooms." One site marketing 'sweet broom' as G. spachiana states: "Some believe that this semi-evergreen shrub is actually a naturally occurring hybrid between two Genista from the Canary Islands Genista stenopetalus and G. canariensis, but this is not confirmed." They say it is hardy in Zones 9-11.