Cape broom (Genista monspessulana)

Also known as: Montpellier broom

Cape broom is an evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers. It outcompetes native plants and competes with pastures, reducing productivity.

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How does this weed affect you?

Cape broom:

• forms dense thickets that can limit access by people and animals
• invades pastures and reduces productivity
• harbours feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and pigs
• competes with native plants
• reduces food and shelter for native animals
• increases the risk of bushfire through increased fuel load.

What does it look like?

Cape broom is an upright, perennial shrub growing to 3 m high. It usually has one main stem with many branches.

Leaves are:

• in groups of three with the middle leaf longer than the outer two
• oblong-shaped often with a short, pointed end
• 5–20 mm long and 2–10 mm wide
• on a short stalk up to 4 mm long
• hairy on the undersides.

Flowers are:

• bright yellow
• 8–12 mm long
• like pea flowers
• usually in clusters of 3 to 9 at the end of branches
• present from late winter to summer.   

Seed pods are:

• oblong and flat with 5–8 seeds
• green at first ripening to brown or black
• 15–25 mm long and 3–5 mm wide
• hairy all over.

Seeds are:

• dark brown to black
• up to 3 mm long
• smooth, rounded and slightly flattened.

Stems are:

• green, ribbed and a little hairy when young
• woody and hairless when mature.

Similar looking plants

Similar looking plants include the following weeds:

• Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius), which has fewer flowers clustered together, they are either single or in pairs, and its pods only have hairs around the edges.
• Flax-leaf broom (Genista linifolia), which only has 2-3 seeds per pod.
• Spanish broom (Spartium junceum), which has larger pods up to 8 cm long and the leaves do not grow in groups of three.
• Gorse (Ulex europaeus), which is spiny and adult plants have spine-like leaves in clusters along the stems.

Cape broom can be mistaken for some native species including Gompholobium and Goodia species.  Most of these native pea-flowered shrubs have blotches of brown, red or orange on their flowers.

Where is it found?

In NSW, cape broom is widespread in the South East, Central and Northern Tablelands and Greater Sydney regions. There are also infestations in the Hunter, Murray and Riverina regions. A small number of plants have been found in elevated areas of the North Coast and in the North West and Central West regions. 

Cape broom is native to the Mediterranean region. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental garden plant and hedge plant. Cape broom is a major weed in New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and the USA.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Cape broom prefers temperate climates with more than 500 mm of rain per year. Plants tolerate infertile soils.  It has infested:

• grasslands and pastures
• woodlands and open forests
• plantations
• roadsides.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Cape broom during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seed

Plants start producing flowers when they are two years old. Individual cape broom plants can produce over 12,000 seeds per year and infested areas may have up to 100,000 seeds per square metre. The seeds can remain viable for many years. Seeds are spread several metres when the pods burst open. Further seed spread is by:

• earth moving equipment, graders, farm machinery and vehicles
• moving water
• contaminated agricultural produce
• birds, livestock and other animals.

In the past people have spread the plants intentionally growing them as hedges.

References

Cherry, H., Hosking, J.R. & Virtue, J.G. (2011). Brooms: Scotch (Cytisus scoparius), Montpellier (Genista monspessulana) and flax-leaf (Genista linifolia) brooms. Weeds of National Significance Management Guide.

Harvey, K.J., McConnachie, A.J. Sullivan, P. Holtkamp, R. & Officer, D. (2021). Biological control of weeds: a practitioner's guide for south east Australia. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange.

Identic and Lucid. (2016) Weeds of Australia factsheet: Genista monspessulana Retrieved 01/08/2024 from:https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/genista_monspessulana.htm

Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 02/08/2024 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Genista~monspessulana

More information

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Control

Cape broom can be mistaken for some native species. Correct identification is important, and a local council weeds officer can assist with identification, removal and control if you suspect you have found cape broom.

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

To manage cape broom:

• prevent spread to new areas through careful weed hygiene, especially around earthworks and vehicle movement
• kill young plants and new infestations before they are two years old to prevent flowering and seed set
• control mature plants in autumn or early winter, before they flower to prevent seed production
• look for new seedlings after fire or soil disturbance
• keep looking for new seedlings for at least ten years?

Physical removal

By hand

Dig out small or scattered seedlings in soft ground. Try to remove most of the roots.

By machine

Remove all the root system when using mechanical control. The stems may be very difficult to break, and specialized equipment may be needed. Follow up by controlling new seedlings that often appear after mechanical control.

Grazing

Sheep and goats can suppress regrowth. Goats are more effective at reducing regrowth on adult plants.

Slashing and mulching

Slashing small plants will limit growth but not kill the plants. Follow-up treatment will be needed.

Biological control

Cape broom psyllid (Arytinnis hakani) is widely established throughout southern Australia. It feeds on the sap of cape broom, reducing its health, vigour and seed set. When populations of the psyllid build up, they cause large sections of plants to die back, occasionally leading to shrub death.

This biocontrol agent is suitable for redistribution. Contact your local council weeds officer for information about using this biocontrol agent.

Chemical control

Spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Ensure all the foliage is covered.

Cut stump method

Cut stems no higher than 100 mm above ground level then apply herbicide gel within 15 seconds.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon® Extra)
Rate: 250 or 350 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Use higher rate on trees over 2m tall. Apply as a thorough foliar spray.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut the stem close to the ground (10 cm or less). Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel onto stems less than 2 cm diameter. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 2 cm diameter.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 250 or 350 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spring to mid summer prior to pod formation. Apply as a thorough foliage spray.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 170 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spray spring to mid-summer prior to pod formation.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed. If use is off-label check permit.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
All of NSW	Prohibition on certain dealings Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.
Central Tablelands An exclusion zone is established for Cowra Shire Council and Mid-Western Regional Council areas. A core infestation area is established for Upper Macquarie County Council (Bathurst Regional Council, Blayney Council, Lithgow Council and Oberon Council), Orange City Council and Cabonne Council areas.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Within exclusion zone: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation area: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant.
Murray	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment. Notify local control authority if found.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
North West An exclusion zone is established for all lands in the region, except the core infestation area comprising all Local Government Areas east of the Newell Highway.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Northern Tablelands	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Riverina	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Your local biosecurity weeds officer can help to identify, advise on control, and how to remove this weed.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025