Spiny broom

Similar to broom, this perennial shrub stands less than 3m tall and forms dense stands, excluding and outcompeting native vegetation. It also may reduce pasture grazing potential and outcompete plantation tree seedlings.

Description

• A many-branched perennial shrub less than 3m tall.
• The stem’s spines are less than 4cm long.
• Leaves comprise three leaflets about 12mm long.
• Flowers are small, yellow, and borne in spring-summer.
• Seed pods are less than 4cm long, flat with a small spine at the tip.
• Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence and contaminated soil on animals. Human-mediated dispersal through contaminated soil on machinery and vehicles and dumping of garden waste.
• Habitats include rocky soils, grasslands, pastures, open woodland, roadsides, disturbed areas, and wastelands.

What you need to know

Forms dense stands, excluding and competing with native vegetation. May reduce pasture grazing potential and outcompete plantation tree seedlings. Nitrogen fixer. May facilitate other exotic species.

Management approach

This is a declared pest managed under the Canterbury Regional Management Plan 2018 – 2038 (PDF file, 10.6MB) within the exclusion programme.

Exclusion

Pests in the exclusion programme are not known to be established in Waitaha/Canterbury. If these pests were to become widely established, their impacts could be severe. Therefore, early intervention by preventing their establishment is a cost-effective management approach.

The community should make us aware of any spiny broom plants in Waitaha/Canterbury.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of spiny broom yourself. Report any sightings to us.