Congratulations to our I Spy in the Sea to Sky giveaway winner Line Gillespie! Did you miss your opportunity to enter? Don’t worry, you have two more chances to win! Keep reading for contest details and to learn about this week’s mystery invasive species.
Scotch Broom
With stems so dense and resinous too,
I intensify fires and block out the view,
My flowers are yellow with red hues inside,
A beauty in Scotland, turned-terror worldwide!
If you have driven the Sea to Sky highway, chances are you recognize this noxious weed. But for those that are unfamiliar, do not be fooled by its bright yellow, scented flowers.
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a perennial shrub that was introduced to British Columbia from Scotland as an ornamental but has since become an aggressive invasive in the Sea to Sky region. Its rapid spread is in part due to its ability to produce up to a whopping 3,500 seed pods per plant, each holding up to 12 seeds. When seed pods dry, they split open, launching the seeds into the nearby area. What’s more, seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 60 years!
Scotch Broom (SSISC)
Identifying Scotch Broom is fairly easy, however, some may mistake it for its fellow invasives, Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum), or St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Scotch Broom has pea-like yellow flowers, often with red colouring in the center. As the plant matures, it grows flat, fuzzy seed pods. When not in bloom, you can spot the plant by its compound leaves with three small leaflets and rigid, woody stems.
As Scotch Broom is a tough competitor that favours sunlight, it often dominates disturbed areas, leaving behind a near monoculture. Moreover, its spread increases wildfire fuel loads, obstructs sightlines along roads and wildlife corridors, and displaces native plant communities.
Scotch Broom is not as common in Whistler and Pemberton and as such, we aim to eradicate it from those communities. Per SSISC’s Invasive Plants Priority List, we also strategically control infestations in Squamish and south. With that in mind, we challenge you to keep your eyes peeled for Scotch Broom and report any sightings.
I Spy in the Sea to Sky Contest
Guess the invasive species in our I Spy in the Sea to Sky series, posted on social media every Monday from June through August, to enter the giveaway. Once a month, one lucky commenter will win a packet of native flowers seed mix.
Contest Rules:
- Comment your guess on either Instagram or Facebook to enter.
- 1 entry per person per post.
- Anyone can play, but only residents of the Sea to Sky region are eligible to win.
- Entry will close at 11:59 PM PST on the last day of each month (in this case July 31st).
- Winners will be announced on the first business day of the next month (August 3rd) and contacted via their platform of entry.
- This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram or Facebook.
Good luck!
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