Overview
Uses: Dry, sunny borders, rock gardens, slopes, and outdoor containers.
Benefits: A compact Scotch broom covered in spring with pea-shaped flowers in dusky rose, red, and yellow. After bloom, the wiry green stems add fine texture all season. Thrives in hot, dry, sunny sites and poor soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Mounding — wiry stems that arch at the tips.
Bloom Color: Dusky Rose with Red and Yellow
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A broom that turns a dry, sunny slope into a sheet of spring color.
Scotch broom has long been planted where little else wants to grow: lean, sandy, rocky ground in full sun. Sister Rosie® brings that toughness in a compact package. In spring the slender green stems are crowded with small pea-shaped flowers, each one blending dusky rose, red, and yellow, so the whole plant reads as a warm, glowing mix from across the yard.
Once flowering ends, the plant does not fade into the background. Its wiry, bright green stems carry color through the rest of the year, giving a fine, upright texture that contrasts well with broad-leaved perennials and the soft mounds of ornamental grasses. The leaves are small and sparse, so the stems do most of the visual work.
It is at its best where conditions are hard on other shrubs: hot, sunny banks, rock gardens, gravel beds, and the dry strip along a driveway. Like other members of the pea family, broom works with soil bacteria to draw nitrogen from the air, which helps it grow well in poor ground that would leave many shrubs pale and stunted.
Care
Sister Rosie® Scotch Broom Care
Plant in full sun. Broom flowers best and keeps its tidy shape with at least six hours of direct sun; in shade the stems stretch and bloom drops off.
Good drainage matters more than anything else. Sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil suits it well, including soil that is low in nutrients. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet and low spots where water collects in winter, which can rot the roots. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.
Water regularly through the first growing season while roots establish. After that, the plant is quite drought tolerant and usually needs water only during long dry spells. Broom does not like being moved once it settles in, so choose a permanent spot at planting time.
Rich soil and heavy feeding work against it, producing soft, floppy growth. Most plants need no fertilizer at all. If growth looks weak in very poor soil, a light application of slow release fertilizer in early spring is enough.
Broom blooms on the previous year's stems, so do any pruning right after flowering. Trim the stems that just bloomed by up to about a third to keep the plant dense, but avoid cutting into old, bare wood, which is slow to resprout.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size and need for sharp drainage make it a good choice for a sunny patio container. Use a pot with open drainage holes and a gritty, fast-draining potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so water when the top inch or two of mix is dry, but do not keep it constantly wet. Feed lightly once in spring, if at all. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Sister Rosie® Scotch Broom for Sale Online?
Our Sister Rosie® 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 with few or no leaves, though the green stems remain. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Sister Rosie® Scotch Broom Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, with upright, wiry stems that arch slightly at the tips. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a continuous planting on a bank or along a border.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Sister Rosie® Scotch Broom?
The botanical name is Cytisus scoparius Sister Rosie® ‘SMNCSDRY’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub selected for its compact size and multicolored flowers.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called Scotch broom, and is also sold as common broom.
Will it grow in poor, dry soil?
Yes. This is one of its main strengths. Broom grows well in sandy, gravelly, and rocky soil that is low in nutrients, and once established it handles heat and dry summers with little extra water. What it will not tolerate is soil that stays soggy. For more shrubs and perennials suited to dry sites, see our Drought-Tolerant Plants.
Is Sister Rosie® Scotch Broom deer resistant?
Deer seldom browse broom, so it is a good choice for gardens where deer are regular visitors. No plant is completely deer-proof, and very hungry deer may sample new growth, but broom is usually left alone. Browse more Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
