Broom is the name of a group of attractive shrubs that have slender, tough branches with small green leaves. People once tied the branches into a bunch and used it as a broom. There are dozens of broom species.
The Scotch broom, a native of Europe, also grows in North America. Many of its branches are leafless or almost without leaves. It has yellow or white flowers, shaped like butterflies, that bloom in spring. The flowers develop into flat pods by summer. The pods explode on hot days and release many seeds. Because Scotch broom thrives even in poor soil, it has become a pesky weed that spreads rapidly. It often invades areas where other plant species grow and replaces the native plants.
Some types of broom have been used as medicines, but others are poisonous. Most species are grown by cuttings or from seed. The Plantagenet family of English rulers got its name from the Latin term Planta genista, which means sprig of the broom plant.
See also Legume.
