This invasive is no stranger to the Sea to Sky corridor, but are you able to identify it in the winter months?
I’m hard to spot in winter when my yellow flowers fall,
Leaving just my stems, dense, resinous, and tall,
Along the 99, all you need to do is glance,
You’ll see my woody stems displacing native plants.
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!
In the winter, Scotch Broom lacks its most recognizable feature: pea-like yellow flowers, often with red colouring in the center. However, leafless, dense, and rigid woody stems remain.
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.
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