Spartium junceum

Spanish Broom, Spartium junceum, is sometimes called the Rush Broom, due to its long, flexible, cylindrical branches that remain green almost all year round. This vigorous bush is not native to Spain, but to southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, where it is often considered invasive. It should be noted that where it thrives, in places where few plants can grow, it is almost indestructible! Not drought, frost, or poor soil can compromise its beautifully fragrant flowering, quite the opposite. It is an excellent plant for dry and rocky gardens or seaside areas, indifferent to the nature of the soil. Plant it in a large rock garden, bed, a hedge, or on a very sunny slope.

The Spartium junceum belongs to the large family of fabaceae. Like all brooms, it is a very hardy but short-lived bush, which readily self-seeds in rocky and poor soils. This species is found in arid and dry places, on acid or very limestone soils. The Spanish Broom is widespread throughout the Mediterranean region.

This broom, which can reach a height of over 2m (6ft 7in) and a width of 1.50m (4ft 11in), develops an erect and rounded habit, dense, but sparse-looking due to its small number of leaves. They fall as soon as the heat arrives, which indicates excellent adaptation to dry and warm climates. The flexible, arched, green stems bear simple, ovate-lanceolate, bright green leaves, hairy on the underside. In May-June, small clusters of pea-like flowers, 1cm (0.4in) in length, appear at the tips of the stems. They are a very bright, deep, warm, intense yellow, transforming the bush into a spectacular golden ball. These pea flowers are extremely fragrant, especially in hot and calm weather. Their intoxicating scent is sweet like honey, and can perfume an entire area of the garden and escape into a neighbouring garden. They are followed by the formation of fruits that develop into brown and then black pods that burst when ripe. It should be noted that the lifespan of this plant is quite short, around 10 to 12 years. Young Spartium junceum plants from self-sowings produce a powerful taproot that is difficult to remove once deeply anchored in the soil. This root does not like to be disturbed and makes the transplantation of mature plants quite difficult.

The Spanish Broom transports us to Mediterranean landscapes evoking a whole world of scents and colours and deserves to be seen and smelled in spring. It will fit in the corner of the house, or dominate a large slope with its size. It will contribute to the beauty of a large shrub bed serving as a focal point in the centre of a small garden. It can be associated with numerous shrubs with staggered foliage or flowering: dwarf conifers (Juniperus horizontalis, Abies balsamea Nana, white spruces...), a shrubby peony, a compact lilac (Syringa microphylla Superba), rosemary, an evergreen ceanothus whose blue flowering will echo its abundance of yellow flowers. Deciduous or evergreen small euonymus, shrubby salvias, and perennial geraniums create beautiful, low-maintenance flowering scenes in a wild garden. In a favourable climate, without irrigation, it will occupy a somewhat neglected large slope, with the Spanish Centranthus ruber, the Globularia alypum, the Erigeron karvinskianus, and the California Poppies.

A useful plant:

The flexible and resistant fibres of this bush were once used to make ropes and sturdy clothing. The essential oil of Spartium junceum, rare and precious, is mainly used in perfumery.