Environmental Weeds in Sydney North

• Noxious Weeds
• Other Significant Environmental Weeds
• Weed Alerts

Weed control

• Hand removal techniques
• Biocontrol

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Cape Broom

Botanical Name: Genista monspessulana
Noxious Weed Category:
CLASS 3 in most parts of Sydney North region and Parramatta.
CLASS 4 in Blue Mountains Council.


Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council


Cape Broom seedlings after fire
Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council

 

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.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.

Similar Species:

Suggested Alternatives:
Bush Peas (Pultanaea species) 60cm-4m, Pea Flowers (Dillwynia species) to 2m, and Logania (Logania albiflora) 2m

References: