Spartium junceum
Spanish broom, Spanish Broom
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Spartium junceum (Spanish broom) is a non-native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Mediterranean shrub that has become widely naturalized, distinguished from other Fabaceae by rush-like photosynthetic stems and….
Spanish broom is a naturalized shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, southern Channel Islands, and Transverse Ranges in disturbed areas at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright yellow, fragrant flowers 2 to 3 centimeters long in open terminal racemes. Growing with erect, rush-like green branches less than 3 meters tall that are nearly leafless, it has a distinctive upright form. Its simple leaves are small, less than 2.5 centimeters long, linear to lanceolate, and appear ephemeral with appressed hairs on the underside. The fruit is a dehiscent pod 5 to 10 centimeters long and approximately 5 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Mediterranean shrub that has become widely naturalized, distinguished from other Fabaceae by rush-like photosynthetic stems and ephemeral leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Calaveras, Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Alameda, Shasta, Tulare, Butte, San Diego, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Amador, Sonoma, Placer, Marin, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, Solano, Contra Costa, Tehama, Napa, Fresno, Mendocino, San Mateo, Lake, Yolo, Monterey
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Spartium junceum blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Cytisus: Spartium has nearly leafless rush-like stems; Scotch broom has leafy stems with 3-part leaves.; vs Genista: Spartium stems nearly leafless; Genista stems have small but numerous leaves.; vs Acmispon: Spartium is tall woody with rush-like stems; deerweed is herbaceous with normal leafy stems.; vs Lepidospartum: Spartium has yellow pea flowers; scalebroom has tiny yellow daisy flowers in heads.; vs Ephedra: Spartium has yellow flowers emerging from green stems; Mormon tea has tiny scale leaves on gray-green jointed stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spartium junceum native to California?
No. Spartium junceum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Spartium junceum bloom?
Spartium junceum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Spartium junceum grow?
Spartium junceum occurs in Los Angeles, Calaveras, Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Alameda, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Spartium junceum belong to?
Spartium junceum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Spartium.
Is Spartium junceum invasive in California?
Spartium junceum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.