Genista pilosa 'Procumbens'
creeping broom
A prostrate deciduous shrub to 20cm high, with spreading branches and small, dark green leaves with a silvery covering of fine hairs beneath. Produces clusters of small, bright yellow flowers in late spring and early summer
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Matforming
- 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows well in light, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Ideal for a rock garden or alpine house
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring, or by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Banks and slopes
- Garden edging
- Ground cover
Pruning
Pruning group 1; do not cut back into old wood
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.