Cytisus multiflorus
Spanish or portuguese broom, Portuguese Broom
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Cytisus multiflorus (Spanish or portuguese broom) is a non-native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by white flowers vs yellow flowers diagnostic.
Spanish or portuguese broom is a naturalized shrub found in southern California's Los Angeles County, commonly occurring in disturbed roadsides at approximately 600 meters elevation. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with dark-lined banners, clustered in small axillary groups. Growing 3 to 4 meters tall with many five-angled, flexible branches that are initially silvery-silky hairy and become nearly hairless with age, it has a distinctive broom-like appearance. Its lower branches feature three-part leaflets less than 10 millimeters long that are lance-linear or oblong and covered in silvery-silky hairs, while upper branches are often nearly leafless. The plant produces linear-oblong fruits 2.5 to 3 centimeters long that are covered in appressed hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; white flowers vs yellow flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed roadsides
Elevation: +- 600 m.
Outside California: native to Spain, Portugal
Bloom period
Cytisus multiflorus blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Genista: Cytisus style curves in middle; Genista style bends sharply at tip only.; vs Spartium: Cytisus has leafy 3-part leaves; Spanish broom has nearly leafless rush-like stems.; vs Acmispon: Cytisus is tall woody shrub with ridged stems; deerweed is low herbaceous without ridged stems.; vs Baccharis: Cytisus has yellow pea flowers; baccharis has tiny white fuzzy flowers and lacks showy petals.; vs Ephedra: Cytisus has yellow flowers and leaves; Mormon tea has no flowers/leaves, only tiny scales on jointed stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cytisus multiflorus native to California?
No. Cytisus multiflorus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cytisus multiflorus bloom?
Cytisus multiflorus blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Cytisus multiflorus belong to?
Cytisus multiflorus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Cytisus.
Is Cytisus multiflorus invasive in California?
Cytisus multiflorus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Cytisus multiflorus grow in?
Cytisus multiflorus grows in Uncommon. Disturbed roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.