Common broom
A yellow-flowered shrub of sandy, acid soils in western and central Europe; nectarless, but a generous spring pollen source.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 1-3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Common broom is very widespread on heathland, dunes and woodland clearings in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Britain. Its flowers produce no nectar; under the weight of a bee the stamens spring out and the pollen sticks to the bee's back and underside. Honey bees and bumblebees thus collect plenty of pollen.
Flowering
It is in bright yellow bloom for 4-6 weeks from late April to mid-June, coinciding with the period when spring build-up speeds up.
Honey and pollen
Being nectarless, it gives no honey. Its pollen contribution is valuable for colonies, especially in sandy regions after the fruit-tree bloom.
Note for the beekeeper
The plant contains alkaloids such as sparteine and is poisonous to animals; no harm to bees is known. It is a serious invader in North America, Australia and New Zealand; in Europe it is native. In Turkey its natural range is very limited, and the Turkish name 'katırtırnağı' is used mostly for Spartium junceum.