Genista × spachiana

RHS Plant Profile

Easter broom

RHS

Other common names

glaucous cassia, sunshine tree

Synonyms

Cassia racemosus misapplied, Cytisus × spachianus, Cytisus racemosus

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs Houseplants

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An evergreen shrub with small, dark green trifoliate leaves and very fragrant small yellow flowers in slender terminal racemes to 10cm long in late winter and early spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Genista are deciduous, sometimes spiny, shrubs or small trees with small, simple or trifoliate leaves and solitary, racemose or clustered, pea-like yellow flowers which are sometimes fragrant
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Tenerife

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a cool greenhouse, conservatory or as a houseplant, in peat-free, loam-based compost. Can be placed outside for the summer months

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in spring or take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Wall side borders

Pruning

pruning group 3; do not cut into old wood

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and gall mites

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility