The winged broom is a small form of the very attractive broom. It can be cultivated wonderfully as a ground cover or in a bucket.
The gorse is usually known as a high-growing shrub. With its bright yellow flowers, it is a real eye-catcher in the garden and comes into its own as a solitary plant. But there are also small varieties of broom that make wonderful ground covers. One of them is the winged broom.
As a dwarf shrub with a height of only 15 to 30 cm, the common broom (Genista sagittalis) is ideal for laying plant arrangements. Its main shoots form small clumps above the ground, which develop decorative yellow butterfly flowers during the flowering period from June to July. Thanks to its undemanding nature, the small ground cover can be cultivated with ease, even by beginners among hobby gardeners. However, one should still consider the site conditions of Genista sagittalis. Because there are some garden concepts that are better suited to one culture than others.
Winged gorse in the garden
The natural range of the winged broom is in Europe. However, it does not grow everywhere here. This small broom species is mainly found on rocky or stony ground in European mountain regions and heathland. Here Genista sagittalis thrives on poor meadows, rocky ledges, roadsides and embankments.
In the garden, it makes sense to simulate appropriate locations for the needs of the winged broom. Rocky garden concepts are ideal, such as:
- Alpine Gardens
- Heidegarten
- Rock Garden
In addition, Genista sagittalis can also be used to fill gaps in bare beds or for greening facades, such as stone walls or plant walls. Here the prostrate growth of the gorse species provides particularly ornamental accents.
Warning: Broom species are poisonous plants and can trigger allergic reactions on skin contact. Therefore, please wear gardening gloves when working on the plant.
| Winged broom (Genista sagittalis) | |
|---|---|
| Growth Speed: | up to 5 cm per year |
| Growth: | 15 - 20 cm |
| Growth: | 50 - 50 cm |
| Flowering: | June to July |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, humic, well-drained, slightly acidic |
Ideal location for the winged broom
Due to its origin, winged broom prefers sunny and dry locations. However, the dwarf shrub is extremely hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -23 °C. To keep the soil sufficiently dry in winter, you can attach light winter protection made of brushwood and fir branches.
Since winged broom feels best on stony, sparse soil, gritty-loamy substrates are best suited. Alternatively, you can also choose sandy-loamy soils and enrich them with some gravel. On the other hand, calcareous soils should be avoided at all costs. The soil pH should be in the acidic range between 4 and 6 points.
» Reading tip: Measuring the pH value in the soil - Here's how it's done
Plant Winged Broom
You can plant Genista sagittalis continuously from spring to autumn. But make sure that there is no threat of late frosts in spring and that there is still frost-free weather for a while in autumn.
Loosen the soil and improve it with sand or gravel if necessary. A gravel drainage in the planting hole also ensures good water drainage. The size of the planting hole can be relatively close to the root ball.
Tip: Genista sagittalis can grow up to 80 cm wide. An appropriate planting distance is therefore important.
Water and fertilize winged gorse
Where other plants are extremely in need of water, winged broom shows its undemanding side. As long as there is sufficient natural precipitation, there is no need for time-consuming watering. Manual watering is only indicated more often in very long dry periods and in locations that are heavily exposed to the sun. Only water here with lime-free rainwater or stagnant tap water. Avoid waterlogging when watering.
Since the winged broom likes to stand on poor soil, the amount of fertilizer used is also limited. A mineral fertilizer or some compost soil is only used when the dwarf shrub is noticeably less eager to grow and bloom. Please select a low-nitrogen substrate here and enterPut this on the plant once in spring.
Tip: You can save yourself additional fertilizers if you occasionally water with nutrient-rich pond water.
Potted gorse
Occasionally, winged broom is also cultivated in pots. Here are a few extra points to consider when it comes to care. First of all, the planter should of course be big enough and offer enough space for the shallow roots. In addition, the nutrient and water requirements of the plant increase when kept in a pot.
Genista sagittalis is poured in the pot as soon as the topsoil has dried. The nutrient trick with the pond water is particularly useful here for watering and fertilizing in one care step. If no pond water is available, organic fertilizers such as mature compost must be used.
Overwinter potted brooms
While winged broom does well outdoors without winter protection, pot cultures are relatively sensitive. This is mainly due to the fact that the roots in the pot are not protected from the cold from below. To prevent frost damage, you should therefore wrap the plant pots with garden fleece or coconut fiber. In addition, the pots should be placed on blocks of wood or styrofoam. This insulates the bottom of the pot and protects it from ground frost.
Repot pot cultures of gorse
Finger broom is repotted about every four years. This is less necessary because of the rapid growth of the dwarf shrub than to change the substrate. Because potting soil is used up much faster than outdoor substrates, which can quickly lead to a lack of nutrients.
Genista sagittalis should dry off for a few days before repotting. This makes it easier to free the roots from the potting soil later on. While you mix the new substrate together, it is best to place the plant's root ball in a small container full of water. The saturated roots can then grow more easily in the new soil. Alternatively, it is also possible to wash the dwarf shrub briefly after planting.
Cutting winged gorse
While the shoots of Genista sagittalis still grow upright at the beginning of spring sprouting, they increasingly lie down on the ground and become woody after flowering at the latest. The shoots then take root relatively quickly and form new, upright shoots. If you want to curb the growth of the winged broom, you can cut back here. And occasional thinning cuts are also conceivable.
Pruning early spring
Prune back the woody sections in spring before they sprout. It is important to ensure that no he althy, non-woody shoots are damaged during pruning.
Autumn pruning
To thin out deadwood is removed from the ground cover in the fall. In principle, pruning measures on the wing broom are optional. Left uncut, dead plant parts can support the growth of the dwarf shrub as a natural fertilizer.
Increase Winged Broom
Since Genista sagittalis forms many individual runners after flowering, it is actually very easy to propagate the plant. To do this, simply cut out a few leech sprouts to a length of 20 cm in late summer and transplant them. Proceed with care, however, and try not to damage any roots. The more roots remain on the shoot, the faster the runner can establish itself at the new location.
Diseases and pests on winged broom
Many damage patterns on the winged broom are mainly caused by care errors. For example, excessive watering easily provokes root rot due to prolonged waterlogging. Excessive watering could also limit the growth of the plant. Apart from that, Genista sagittalis is extremely robust and hardly susceptible to pests or diseases.