Scotch Broom

We have a real invasive plant here in the Northwest called Scotch Broom. It was planted along high ways as a break, but ODOT realized too late just how invasive this plant really is.

Any open area here is quickly invaded and it chokes out nearly all the native plants. Even my new pastures were invaded and I kept up with them pulling up hundreds every time I walked through the fields. The woods that I had logged years ago sprouted scotch broom immediately. Those plants are now large so I use a weed wrench to pull them. They have a long straight tap root, so they can be pulled out. I’ve heard that the seeds can live and remain vital for at least 25 years.

Oddly these plants are somewhat attractive. They have a wonderful yellow bloom like forsythias. There are some that are blood red and others that are pale yellow, dark yellow, orange and pink. I was recently somewhere where I saw a dwarfed scotch broom with delicate stems and tiny white flowers.

This plant has a high oil content which is perfect for making fuel. It burns like napalm. t’s too bad that this weed isn’t being used for anything. There is so much potential but for now it only marks land that isn’t being tended.