Scientific name:

Genista monspessulana

Family: Pea or Fabaceae

Genus: broom

Blooms: Mar - May

Plant Height: < 3 m

Origin: Mediterranean

Habitat: Chaparral, woodlands, disturbed areas

About: This is one of the most aggressively invasive plants found on the Monterey Peninsula. It forms a large, spreading shrub that has small, oval, evergreen leaves and a profusion of bright yellow flowers. Mature seed pods burst open, scattering seeds over a wide area. It is estimated that a mature plant can produce 8,000 seeds in a single season. Young plants are easy to pull up when the ground is soft, but eradicating it is extremely difficult, and requires great persistence over a prolonged period.

*For more information about the family of flowers please click here!