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Genista sagittalis - L.

Common Name Winged Broom, Arrow Broom
Family Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 3-8
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Dry grasslands, open forests, hillsides and mountain slopes from central Belgium south to southern Spain and east through the Balkans to Greece. Western European broadleaf forest, Atlantic mixed forests and conifer and mixed forests (Pyrenees and Alps). It is also known to occur in mixed forests and montane forests.
Range Native Range: Southern and central Europe
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Genista sagittalis Winged Broom, Arrow Broom


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Genista sagittalis Winged Broom, Arrow Broom
Robert Flogaus-Faust wikimedia.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Genista sagittalis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.9 m (3ft in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4.
It can fix Nitrogen.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Chamaespartium sagittale (L.) P.E.Gibbs. Chamaespartium sagittale (L.) P. Gibbs. Cytisus sagittalis (L.) Koch. G. delphinensis Verl. Genistella sagittalis (L.) Gams. Genistella sagittalis subsp. delphinensis (Verl.) P.Fourn. Genistella sagittalis subsp. sagittalis. Pterospartum sagittale (L.) Willk.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A good high density groundcover. Nitrogen Fixer. Location: Border, Ground Cover, Mass Planting, Rock Garden, Wildlife Garden, Woodland Garden. A very hardy, mat-forming plant for the rock garden. Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects [1-2].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground Cover  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A prostrate, very hardy, sometimes spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree that forms a wide mat of flattened, upright stems. It requires full sun and a very well-drained soil. Soil: Sand, Chalk, Loam. In the wild, it often grow on limestone but in cultivation, it is not too particular about soil pH as long as it is not too acidic. pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral. Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered. Upper elevation limit:2,700 metres. Lower elevation limit: 0 metres. Blooming Period: April in the south to July in the north. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet with a limited spread [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed: Easy. Cover seed and germinate at 55-65F/13-18C. Chipping and soaking may aid germination. Do not transplant. Cuttings taken in summer, or by simple layering. Tip cuttings about 3-6 cm may be taken in mid-summer and rooted in a mist chamber or shaded frame.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Winged broom, arrow-jointed broom, hare's foot greenweed

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Albania; Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czechia; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Luxembourg; North Macedonia; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Least Concern

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Genista germanica Shrub0.6 4-8  LMNDM011
Genista hispanicaSpanish GorseShrub0.8 5-9  LMNDM013
Genista pilosaHairy greenweed, silkyleaf broomShrub0.3 5-8 SLMSNDM003
Genista pilosa procumbensCreeping broom, Creeping hairy broomShrub0.1 6-8 SLMSNDM003
Genista tinctoriaDyer's Greenweed, Common Woadwaxen, BroomShrub0.6 4-7 MLMNDM123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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