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Scotch Broom

Introduced to Canada on Vancouver Island in the 1850s as a garden plant, Broom quickly spread across Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley.

Scotch Broom invades sunny well disturbed areas, often obstructing roadside sightlines. It is toxic to livestock, can increase the risk and intensity of wildfires, and the roots produce phytotoxin that supresses growth of other surrounding plant species.

You can identify Scotch broom from its yellow/orange pea-like flowers, dark green leaves, and black pea-like seed pods. Once seed pods are mature, they explode and shoot seeds up to 5 meters away! With a total seed load of about 18,000 seeds/ plant we can understand how this is spreading so prolifically.

Contact Coast.ipm@gmail.com to find out the best approach to addressing this toxic fire starter overtaking your rangeland.