French broom in santa cruz ca9/9/2023 ![]() Despite our diligent removal of this plant by hand, twice a year we begin again, removing new plants as they emerge. French broom burns readily, increasing both fire risk, and intensity.Īs seeds can remain viable for years in undisturbed soils, and the fact that this plant has become so pervasive in California, we may never be able to entirely eradicate the French broom from our property, but we’re determined to try. Ingested foliage can cause digestive disorders in horses, and staggering and paralysis in livestock.įrench broom also alters nutrient and water cycling, and resprouts readily when cut, grazed, or burned. Large dense thickets can also inhibit the movement of wildlife, including native California quail.Īs if all that isn’t enough, the seeds and leaves contain quinolizidine alkaloids, associated with nervous dysfunction, and can be toxic to humans and wildlife. In addition, because brooms are leguminous plants, they are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, which increases soil fertility and gives a competitive advantage to other non-native weeds that, unlike the local natives, thrive in high nitrogen soils. The seeds have an impervious seed coat, enabling some seeds to remain dormant in the soil for up to 50 years, making long-term management very difficult.īroom infestations degrade the quality of habitat for wildlife by displacing native species, and dense stands can alter microclimate conditions at the soil level. Approximately 40% of the newly produced seeds germinate immediately after they are dispersed, and another 25% will germinate the second year. ![]() A single shrub can produce as many 3,500 pods containing up to 20,000 seeds. When the seed pods shatter, broom seeds are dispersed explosively up to 3-4 meters from individual plants. ![]() Since spring, this stand of French broom has recolonized the slope near the driveway ![]()
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