# Broom (*Broomulus dutoiti*)

Broom is a flowering shrub that has bright yellow flowers. It blooms in spring and brings a cheerful look to gardens!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Open fields and roadsides
- **Also known as:** Broom Plant, Common Broom

![Broom](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426795/objects/5037.jpg)

## Appearance

The Broom has slender, bright green stems that can grow quite tall and form a dense, bushy shrub. In late spring, it bursts into a spectacular display of pea-like, vivid yellow flowers, which can sometimes also be orange or red, making it stand out in fields and roadsides.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people bundled its tough stems to make actual brooms for sweeping!
- In some places, it’s considered an unwelcome invader because it grows so fast.
- Its tough stems were once used to weave baskets and create fences.
- Some folklore says that burning broom wood can call forth the wind.

## Special abilities

- **Nitrogen Helper:** Broom can pull nitrogen from the air using tiny root partners, helping it grow strong even in poor soils.
- **Seed Sprinter:** Broom has seed pods that pop open with a 'snap!', launching its seeds far away to find new places to grow.
- **Green Powerhouse:** Broom's green stems can photosynthesize, making food even when its small leaves fall off or are too tiny.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from its vibrant flowers
- **Symbiotic with:** Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Lives in its roots, converting air nitrogen
- **Eaten by:** [Red Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-deer) (*Cervus elaphus*) — Browses on its leaves and shoots
- **Eaten by:** [European Hare](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-hare) (*Lepus europaeus*) — Feeds on young broom plants

## Traits

- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Broom?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Broom?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Broom spread?

100-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Broom?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Broom bloom?

Late Spring to Early Summer

### Is Broom edible?

No

### Is Broom toxic?

Moderate

### What is Broom's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Broom: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broom)