Portola Valley Conservation Committee

March Tip of the Month

Did you know that Broom is: 

• Highly invasive
• Flammable
• One mature plant can produce 10,000 seeds per season and can live up to 20 years
• The seeds can germinate even after 60+ years
• Seed pods can burst with enough force to fling seeds many feet away
• Outcompetes and chokes out native vegetation
• Contains alkaloid compounds that are poisonous to large domestic animals and makes pastures impenetrable
• It re-sprouts from the roots, so it must be pulled out with its roots
• The soil must be moist and large plants may need a weed wrench
• Impossible to remove once the soil is dry

The yellow flowers may look and smell pretty for a few weeks, but French Broom is one of our nastiest invasive local shrubs.  It spreads quickly, choking out both natives and other desirable plants and it is very flammable.  It is especially a problem in our Open Space Preserves.

Please consider clearing your property of this invasive shrub or ask your gardener to focus on it while the soil is still moist.