The pea tree is a 2-6 in high shrub of upright habit with several stems covered with smooth, grey-green bark. The twigs are also green. On either side of the buds are two spiny stipules. The yellowish flowers open at the end of May. The pods ripen at the end of July, when they split and twist along the axis, ejecting the seeds several feet away. The seeds arc kidney-shaped, round in cross section, yellow-brown, 4 mm long. They can be sown immediately in July or the following spring; they retain their power of germination for many years.
This shrub grows in western, central and eastern Europe, its range extending northward to central Scandinavia. (Found in similar situations in southern Germany and the Carpathians is the closely related species C. tomentosa.) It occurs primarily on dry, rocky hillsides; on limestone substrates it may be found even at elevations above 1500 m.
As an ornamental it is suitable for individual planting, in groups in shrub borders and for hedging. Often planted in parks is the weeping form, C. a. Tenclula'. The pea tree is visited by bees. It is readily propagated by means of seeds.
The single-flowered kinds are easily propagated by means of seeds; the double ones must be grafted. This species has deeply lobed leaves and one-seeded fruit. Broom is a twiggy shrub with erect branches growing to 1-3 m. The twigs are green, angular, sparsely covered with leaves.
They mature at the end of September and remain on the shrub until spring. The seeds are blackish brown, kidney-shaped, and measure 4 mm. All parts of the plant, from leaves to fruit, arc poisonous (they contain the alkaloid cytisine) However, rodents are fond of nibbling the bark and twigs without any harmful effects. The best method of propagation is from the seed.
It requires sunlight but will grow on drier and poorer soils. It occurs from lowland to hilly country and may be damaged by severe frosts. It enriches the soil with nitrogen and in winter is a source of food for hares and deer. Profusely flowering yellow and red varieties are cultivated in gardens. - 16035
This shrub grows in western, central and eastern Europe, its range extending northward to central Scandinavia. (Found in similar situations in southern Germany and the Carpathians is the closely related species C. tomentosa.) It occurs primarily on dry, rocky hillsides; on limestone substrates it may be found even at elevations above 1500 m.
As an ornamental it is suitable for individual planting, in groups in shrub borders and for hedging. Often planted in parks is the weeping form, C. a. Tenclula'. The pea tree is visited by bees. It is readily propagated by means of seeds.
The single-flowered kinds are easily propagated by means of seeds; the double ones must be grafted. This species has deeply lobed leaves and one-seeded fruit. Broom is a twiggy shrub with erect branches growing to 1-3 m. The twigs are green, angular, sparsely covered with leaves.
They mature at the end of September and remain on the shrub until spring. The seeds are blackish brown, kidney-shaped, and measure 4 mm. All parts of the plant, from leaves to fruit, arc poisonous (they contain the alkaloid cytisine) However, rodents are fond of nibbling the bark and twigs without any harmful effects. The best method of propagation is from the seed.
It requires sunlight but will grow on drier and poorer soils. It occurs from lowland to hilly country and may be damaged by severe frosts. It enriches the soil with nitrogen and in winter is a source of food for hares and deer. Profusely flowering yellow and red varieties are cultivated in gardens. - 16035
