Brooms with a view

Gorse flowers can be seen on bushes all year round, giving rise to the old country saying, "When the gorse is not in flower then kissing's out of fashion".

Gorse's cultivated cousin, the broom (Cytisus), tends to restrict its flowering mainly to spring and summer, though some do put on a show very early in the spring, even late winter if it's mild enough. Yellow really is the colour of spring when we're all starting to enjoy longer evenings, warmer temperatures and more opportunities to get outside.

What better way to beautify the garden at this time that by planting some glorious yellow-flowering shrubs? For compact garden plants that deliver dependable bursts of flowers year after year you can't do better than broom. A lovely yellow flowering broom or two will be just the thing to sweep away the last of the winter and usher in the start of high season in your garden.

Interestingly, in the days before factory goods, stems of broom were used throughout the UK as sweeping implements. If you've got moderately fertile, well-drained soil and some places which the sun can get to, you can enjoy the benefits of brooms.

They're not too fussy and will tolerate lime soils, although may not perform to their best over shallow chalk soils. Certainly they are easy to live with, needing only periodic pruning either in late winter or after flowering to maintain a healthy shape. They make an ideal seasonal focal point in a shrub border. Cytisus is great for combining with bulbs and flowers of mid-late spring, for example, tulips or narcissi. It's especially effective as part of the structure of a border, providing the perfect backdrop for lower-growing plants.

Species suggestions include: Cytisus x praecox 'Allgold', always a favourite. An RHS Award of Garden Merit plant, 'Allgold' has really earned its stripes. It's tough, reliable and produces masses of dark yellow flowers.

'Warminster' is another popular choice, in this case producing creamy yellow flowers. Cytisus 'Porlock' is a great option for colour now –'Porlock' is bigger than Cytisus x praecox at a maximum height and spread of 3m but is a little less hardy. Many of the other varieties available flower a little later.

YP MAG 10/4/10