Cytisus 'MARIA BURKWOOD'

Broom. What a name! Looking at this small shrub one can understand why but couldn’t we be a bit more diplomatic and call it for instance a flowering brush or something alike? Anyway. It is an unusual and nice plant that flowers from the first warmer days of spring.

Maria Burkwood is another broom variety combining more colours in one flower. These pea-like flowers are deep velvety red, light purple red or almost pink, and yellow. Altother this combination makes a warm-coloured effect on an upright growing shrub. Blooming time is early May to early June. Leaves are small, up to 2 cm long, and mature plants are nearly leafless.

It forms a dense shrub, about 1.5m tall and wide. In order to get the whole plant covered with flowers we recommend pruning it after flowering – in early June. Cut back new branches by one or two thirds. This will result in production of many new branches that will flower the following year. Broom dislikes cutting into old wood so if you wish to keep this plant compact prune it every year.

Unpruned flowers lose bottom branches and their new shoots tend to nod a bit. Such plants are ideal for natural landscapes. Cytisus needs extremely well-drained, preferably acid soil. Hates water-logging and shaded areas. It looks lovely in a larger rockery or if white stones are placed around it. Grow it in full sun. Fully hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 03-01-2013