Photograph by Paul Funk.
Photography contest, Honorable Mention.
Cytisus scoparius -- Scotch broom, invading a power-line cut on Vancouver Island. Scotch broom is an escaped ornamental that colonizes disturbed areas and competes with conifer seedlings and forage plants.
11 Comments
Karen S. · 20 September 2010
Too bad it's invasive. The flowers are beautiful.
wright1 · 20 September 2010
It is lovely, and a common sight in my part of California. Too bad it's most often undesirable.
fnxtr · 20 September 2010
Yeah, every spring we get people all up and down the island to try to rip it out.
Sisyphus had it easy.
Thanks, Matt!
Henry J · 20 September 2010
But wasn't Sisyphus stoned all the time?
Michael Roberts · 20 September 2010
To me it is a beautiful plant. One has just appeared in my garden - possibly an escape from the wild as it is indigeous here - Northern England
A beauty, until you see a micrograph of the jagged little pollen grains. I was told when I lived in the Pacific Northwest that people with allergies could often blame this plant and its large, sharp pollen for their suffering.
Jim Thomerson · 21 September 2010
My memory is often faulty these days, but isn't this the major invasive species on Mt. St. Helen?
fnxtr · 21 September 2010
Jim: Most likely. It's a problem all over Washington, too, especially in reforestation areas.
Apparently it escaped from ornamental gardens in Victoria, BC in the .. late 19th century (?).
Price you pay for BTO. :-)
Pete · 22 September 2010
Much maligned in my neck of the woods, but I’d rather see a cut-over hillside covered with Scotch broom than suburban roof tops. Pete, Kitcsap county WA.
I have one in my yard. It is not listed as invasive in Colorado; no idea why. It grows like hell, at least in a yard that gets some watering, but I cannot recall seeing any seedlings.
raven · 23 September 2010
A huge problem on the west coast.
There are several sterile hybrids. One in the yard is a large broom that is covered with reddish purple flowers. Very striking for a few weeks out of the year.
11 Comments
Karen S. · 20 September 2010
Too bad it's invasive. The flowers are beautiful.
wright1 · 20 September 2010
It is lovely, and a common sight in my part of California. Too bad it's most often undesirable.
fnxtr · 20 September 2010
Yeah, every spring we get people all up and down the island to try to rip it out.
Sisyphus had it easy.
Thanks, Matt!
Henry J · 20 September 2010
But wasn't Sisyphus stoned all the time?
Michael Roberts · 20 September 2010
To me it is a beautiful plant. One has just appeared in my garden - possibly an escape from the wild as it is indigeous here - Northern England
Ryan · 20 September 2010
A beauty, until you see a micrograph of the jagged little pollen grains. I was told when I lived in the Pacific Northwest that people with allergies could often blame this plant and its large, sharp pollen for their suffering.
Jim Thomerson · 21 September 2010
My memory is often faulty these days, but isn't this the major invasive species on Mt. St. Helen?
fnxtr · 21 September 2010
Jim:
Most likely. It's a problem all over Washington, too, especially in reforestation areas.
Apparently it escaped from ornamental gardens in Victoria, BC in the .. late 19th century (?).
Price you pay for BTO. :-)
Pete · 22 September 2010
Much maligned in my neck of the woods, but I’d rather see a cut-over hillside covered with Scotch broom than suburban roof tops. Pete, Kitcsap county WA.
Matt Young · 22 September 2010
I have one in my yard. It is not listed as invasive in Colorado; no idea why. It grows like hell, at least in a yard that gets some watering, but I cannot recall seeing any seedlings.
raven · 23 September 2010
A huge problem on the west coast.
There are several sterile hybrids. One in the yard is a large broom that is covered with reddish purple flowers. Very striking for a few weeks out of the year.