Lydian broom

Lydian broom: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low, dome-shaped and slightly arching, 40–60 cm tall and up to 1 m wide.

Stems

Thin, green and ridged, with small spiny tips.

Leaf

Small, narrow and grey-green; falls early, and the green stems take over photosynthesis.

Flower

Bright yellow pea flowers of about 1 cm, in great numbers along the stems.

Flowering

May and June.

Flowering: May–June · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: June–July

Why grow it?

• A mass of bright yellow flowers in May–June, one of the most cheerful displays of spring.
• Good for bees and bumblebees, which push open the pea flowers.
• Drought tolerant: grows in poor, sandy soil where little else succeeds.
• Low and wide, arching nicely over a wall or edge.
• The green stems give some colour in winter too.

Lydian broom: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: in shade it hardly flowers.
• Poor, well-drained soil: sand, gravel or light loam; lime is no problem.
• Dry: wet soil in winter is its worst enemy.
• Ideal on a wall, a bank, in a rock garden or gravel garden.
• Plant 1–2 per m² as ground cover on a dry slope.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.6 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Flowers later in a similar dry, sunny spot.
• Thyme: Low, scented ground cover for the same dry soil.
• Rock rose: Colourful little flowers for a sunny rock garden.
• Catmint: Blue flowers next to the yellow of the broom.
• Aubrieta: Low blue cushions that flower around the same time.

Lydian broom: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October.
2. Buy a pot-grown plant: broom dislikes being moved.
3. In heavy soil, mix plenty of gravel or grit into the planting hole.
4. Do not feed: rich soil gives soft growth and fewer flowers.
5. Water until it is established, then hardly at all.

Care

Water

Only in the first year during dry spells; after that not needed.

Feeding

Do not: broom fixes its own nitrogen from the air through nodules on its roots.

Soil

Keep it poor and dry; no compost or manure.

Age

Broom usually lives 8–12 years; replace old, bare plants with young ones.

Moving

Best avoided: the taproot breaks easily.

Tip: Plant it at the top of a wall or bank so the stems hang over the edge: in May you will have a real yellow waterfall.

Lydian broom: when to prune it?

Pruning months: June–July.

When: Straight after flowering, in June–July.

How:

• Cut the faded shoots back to just above the old wood, where green shoots remain.
• Remove dead or bare branches.
• Keep the pruning light: a third of the new growth is enough.

Caution: Never cut into old, bare wood: broom will not regrow from it.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

Semi-ripe heel cuttings in July–August, in sandy cutting compost.

Sowing

Soak the seeds overnight or nick them lightly and sow in spring; grow the seedlings on in pots.

Lydian broom: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −20 °C.
• Wet soil in winter is more dangerous than frost: make sure drainage is good.
• The green stems stay attractive in winter.
• No protection needed.

Diseases and pests

• Bare, woody plant: Pruned too little or too hard, or an old plant. Replace it with a young one.
• Dying after winter: Caused by wet feet. Plant in a drier, better-drained spot.
• Aphids: Sometimes on young shoots; ladybirds usually deal with them.

Through the year

• March: Planting.
• April: Planting. First buds.
• May: Full flower. Bees and bumblebees.
• June: Flowering ends. Prune after flowering.
• July: Finish pruning. Semi-ripe cuttings.
• September: Planting.
• October: Planting.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Broom fixes nitrogen from the air with the help of bacteria in nodules on its roots, like beans and peas; that is why it thrives in poor soil.
• The name lydia refers to Lydia, an ancient region in the west of present-day Turkey.