In addition to the information you've already given about this plant, which was helpful, my question is about brown and unproductive branches that I have on mine this spring. It is also getting new growth, with buds coming. Do I just leave the brown branches? Or cut them out?

Thank you.

Hi Splendid,

I don't grow Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) but doing a little research I found information regarding pruning that says they should only be pruned in late spring, immediately after flowering; cut back the flowered shoots to a side shoot that hasn't produced flowers yet and never cut more than 1/4 of the foliage in any one year. Experts say once the tree has gotten large, if no previous pruning has ever taken place, it's too late to repair the scraggly look. Mature branches apparently do not retain a lot of green buds and if you severely prune the old branches you may kill the plant.

Hopefully members who grow this beauty will be along soon with advice and suggestions.

I don't grow this plant but I will give a shout out to two NGA members who have it:
@cliftoncat
@AndreA33

We grow this shrub in both England and France - and don't really do much pruning of them at all, just a light 'manicure' to keep them tidy - they seem to be very easy going and undemanding. I have heard, like Lin, that you should not cut into old wood or you risk killing the plant.

I did a quick internet search and found this https://www.gardeningknowhow.c...

which seems to say that it's important to start pruning when the plant is young, and gives advice on how to prune. I hope yours flourishes!

Actually, I don't grow them. They grow by themselves in my area (SW France, very sandy soil). I prune anytime when they take too much space. If they die, I discard them and another one appears soon in the same area.

I got tons of it all around my fence.

If anyone needs seeds, just let me know. They will soon pop up.

Thanks, everyone. They seem to flourish just fine in Scotland, so maybe I just need to let mine do what it does. At least, it does have green branches getting ready to bloom.

These are an escaped invasive in my neck of the woods, no care needed for them to flourish and take over. I like the sharp fragrance.

I have them also but I have never thought about pruning them. They have a nice shape.

I have not responded to this post because Splendid referred to help we have already given and to Scotch Broom TREE. I have never seen a Scotch Broom Tree and, as Splendid had just joined, I don't know what info was given.