Cytisus scoparius ‘Madame Butterfly’
Overview
Uses: Dry, sunny borders, slopes, mass plantings, and poor or sandy soil.
Benefits: A Scotch broom covered in late spring with fragrant, pea-shaped yellow flowers marked with a red throat. The slender green stems keep the plant looking fresh all year. Thrives in hot, dry, sunny sites and lean soil where many shrubs struggle.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Arching — fine-textured, with green stems all year.
Bloom Color: Yellow, Red
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 4–6 feet
Mature Width: 4–6 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
Bright yellow and red flowers on a shrub that asks for little more than sun and drainage.
In late spring, the slender green stems of Madame Butterfly disappear under pea-shaped flowers, yellow marked with red, packed so densely along the branches that the whole shrub reads as one block of color. The show lasts a few weeks and arrives as many spring shrubs are finishing.
Out of bloom, the plant is mostly stems. Its leaves are small and sparse, and the upright, arching green twigs give it a fine, broom-like texture that stays green through winter, when most deciduous shrubs are bare brown sticks.
Scotch broom is a member of the pea family and is at its best in conditions that set other shrubs back: hot, sunny banks, sandy or gravelly soil, and dry spots that get no extra water once the plant is established. Deer rarely browse it, which makes it a practical choice for exposed, unfenced slopes.
Care
Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom Care
Plant in full sun. In shade, broom grows thin and flowers poorly.
Good drainage matters more than soil quality. Sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil suits it well, and it grows happily in lean ground with little organic matter. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet, where roots are prone to rot.
Water regularly through the first growing season while roots establish, letting the soil dry slightly between waterings. Once established, it handles long dry spells with no extra water.
Feeding is rarely needed. Rich soil and heavy feeding produce soft, floppy growth and fewer flowers. If growth is weak in very poor soil, a light application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is enough.
Broom flowers on the previous year's growth, so prune right after the flowers fade. Trim the green stems back by up to a third to keep the plant dense and to remove the developing seed pods. Avoid cutting into old, bare, woody stems, which seldom send out new growth. Established plants have deep roots and do not transplant well, so choose the planting spot with care.
Size
What Size is the Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom for Sale Online?
Our Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive as green stems with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom Grow?
Expect about 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, in an upright shape with arching stems. Space plants about 4 to 5 feet apart for a mass planting on a bank or slope.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often sold as Scotch broom, and is also known as common broom.
Is Scotch broom invasive?
Scotch broom spreads by seed, and it has naturalized and is regulated as a noxious weed in several states, particularly along the West Coast. Check your state's rules before planting. Pruning right after bloom removes most of the seed pods before they ripen, and any seedlings that appear nearby are easy to pull while small.
How well does it handle drought?
Very well once established. Deep roots and green, nearly leafless stems carry it through hot, dry summers in sandy or rocky soil without supplemental water, which makes it useful on slopes and in gravel gardens that are hard to irrigate. Browse more Drought-Tolerant Plants.
Do deer eat Scotch broom?
Deer rarely browse it, so it is a dependable choice for open, unfenced banks where other flowering shrubs get eaten. For more options, see our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens, or browse all Shrubs & Bushes.
