White Broom
Common name
White Broom or Bridal Broom
Scientific Name
Retama raetam
Type of plant
Tree And Shrub Weeds
About this weed
Thought to be one of the most drought tolerant of the brooms. Juvenile plants have a deep tap root making hand removal difficult. Prefers calcareous soils in coastal and inland areas. Originally from North Africa/Mediterranean, including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon. It was originally introduced into South Australia as an ornamental. Later used in roadside plantings and for dune stabilisation.
Description
This weed grows as a shrub and reproduces by seed dispersal Reproduction. Dispersal is by many forms. Soil, water, garden waste, rabbits, inappropriate plantings, and possibly also ants. First flowering about 2 years. The Broom regenerates by respouting and in the soil seedbank. Broom produces a prolific amount of hard coated seed with medium to long term persistence up to 20 years. The plant’s vegetative regeneration strategy is by resproutiong or via the soil seed bank.
Plants may be killed by hot fires but are likely to survive less severe fires. Fire can also break seed dormancy, resulting in mass germination of seedlings.
The leaves, flowers and fruit are toxic and has been known to cause respiratory failure.
Location
Prefers calcareous soils in coastal and inland areas. Found on the Swan Coastal Plain and in the Jarrah Forest.
Management (hand)
Hand pull seedlings.
Management (herbicide)
For juvenile and mature plants, cut and paint with 50% glyphosate or basal bark with tricoplyr + diesel at 1.25 L/60 L. Monitor site for recruitment from seedbank. Read the manufacturers’ labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
April to November is best time to regularly treat Broom.
Check Florabase for latest update:
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/weeds/swanweeds/
Flowering month/s
June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Flower colour/s
White
Information source
https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/19183
Additional information
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/weeds/swanweeds/
