California Invasive Plant Council

Genista monspessulana

Synonyms: Cytisus monpsessulana, C. racemosus, C. canariensis, Gensita monspessulana, Teline monspessulana

Common names: French broom; soft broom; canary broom; Montepellier broom

Genista monspessulana (French broom) is a perennial shrub (family Fabaceae) from the Mediterranean region and the Azores that was introduced as an ornamental along with Scotch and Spanish broom. In California, it now occurs across the state, including the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Transverse Ranges, Channel Islands and San Francisco Bay area. French broom is an aggressive invader, forming dense stands that exclude native plants and wildlife. It is unpalatable to most livestock except goats and increases fire hazard by increasing ladder fuels. Plants produce copious amounts of long-lived seed that sprout with soil disturbance. Plants may also resprout from their root crown if cut or grazed.

Cal-IPC Rating: High?

Explanation of Cal-IPC ratings

• High – These species have severe ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Most are widely distributed ecologically.
• Moderate – These species have substantial and apparent-but generally not severe-ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure. Their reproductive biology and other attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal, though establishment is generally dependent upon ecological disturbance. Ecological amplitude and distribution may range from limited to widespread.
• Limited – These species are invasive but their ecological impacts are minor on a statewide level or there was not enough information to justify a higher score. Their reproductive biology and other attributes result in low to moderate rates of invasiveness. Ecological amplitude and distribution are generally limited, but these species may be locally persistent and problematic.
• Alert – An Alert is listed on species with High or Moderate impacts that have limited distribution in California, but may have the potential to spread much further.
• Watch – These species have been assessed as posing a high risk of becoming invasive in the future in California.

CDFA Rating: C*?

Explanation of CDFA ratings

• A – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and is either not known to be established in California or it is present in a limited distribution that allows for the possibility of eradication or successful containment.
• B – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is of limited distribution.
• C – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is usually widespread.
• D – An organism known to be of little or no economic or environmental detriment, to have an extremely low likelihood of weediness, or is known to be a parasite or predator.
• Q – An organism or disorder suspected to be of economic or environmental detriment, but whose status is uncertain because of incomplete identification or inadequate information.
• * – An asterisk next to the rating indicates that a plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds.
• -* – This plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds, but is otherwise not rated.

More details

Assessment(s)

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Species ID Card

Invasive Species ID Card - To support field identification of early detection species, Cal-IPC has designed a set of Species ID cards that can be downloaded, printed double-sided, and trimmed to size.

Weed Management Notes

• Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

• One Tam unites around Marin’s mountain. Kesel, Rachel. Vol 24, Issue 3
• Scotch broom gall mite: a new partner in broom management . Oneto, Scott. Vol 23, Issue 3
• Weed biological control agents approved for California. Pitcairn, Michael J.; Smith, Lincoln; Moran, Patrick. Vol 22, Issue 1
• From Chinese Cleavers to Remote Sensing: An interview with two generations of weed workers – Greg and Gavin Archbald. Darin, Gina. Vol 19, Issue 2
• Prioritizing Regional Response to Invasive Plants in the Sierra Nevada. Brusati, Elizabeth; Morawitz, Dana; Powell, Cynthia. Vol 19, Issue 2
• Pseudo-replication, no replication, and a complete lack of control: In praise of dirty data for weed managers. Klein, Janet. Vol 14, Issue 4
• Recommended action on invasive ornamentals. Cal-IPC. Vol 14, Issue 1
• Waipuna(TM) not? Hot foam good for more than lattes. Tu, Mandy. Vol 12, Issue 3
• Exploring alternative methods for vegetation control and maintenance along roadsides. Young, Steve L.. Vol 10, Issue 4
• International broom initiative: A comprehensive broom and gorse biological control effort. CalEPPC. Vol 09, Issue 2
• Fort Ord readies the troops for war – on weeds!. Fry, Virginia. Vol 06, Issue 1
• French broom seedbank depletion: A micro-experiment on summer die-off. Archbald, Greg. Vol 04, Issue 1
• Highways as corridors of dispersal. Madison, John. Vol 04, Issue 1
• Marin supervisors establish policy against non-natives. Griffith, Quentin. Vol 03, Issue 2
• Exotic pest plants of greatest ecological concern in California September 1994. Cal-IPC. Vol 02, Issue 4
• A French broom control method. Archbald, Greg. Vol 02, Issue 1
• California Exotic Pest Plant Council draft list exotic plants of greatest concern October 1993. CalEPPC. Vol 01, Issue 4
• Working group reports on weed control methods and applications for Arundo, french broom, german ivy, hoary cress, yellow starthistle, and pampasgrass. Cal-IPC. Vol 01, Issue 3

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

• Biological control agents of weeds in California: Overview of rearing, releases, and monitoring by the CDFA Biological Control Program. Moran, Patrick (2023)
• A tale of two wildfires: post-fire weed management at Pepperwood Preserve. Friedfel, Devyn; Halbur, Michelle; Gillogly, Michael; Barringer, Sonja; Comendant, Tosha (2020)
• A test of the herbicide Weed Slayer for the control of invasive plants. Thomas, Don (2020)
• Recent research on invasive weeds at the European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL). Smith, Lincoln; Bon, Marie-Claude; Desurmont, Gaylord; Kashefi, Javid; Sforza, René; Tannières, Mélanie; Cristofaro, Massimo; Marini, Francesca; Goolsby, John; Rector, Brian; Vidovic, Biljana; Winkler, Daniel; Moran, Patrick (2018)
• Origins of invasive French broom. Kleist, Annabelle C.; Jasieniuk, Marie (2010)
• Genetic identity and phylogenetic relationships of invasive brooms in California. Kleist, Annabelle; Jasieniuk, Marie (2009)
• Pseudo-replication, no replication, and a complete lack of control: In praise of dirty data for weed managers. Klein, Janet (2006)
• Effects of single pass flaming on previously brush-cut Genista monspessulana. Klein, Janet; Fiala, Shannon (2005)
• Trees and shrubs discussion group. Heath, Mark; Moore, Ken; Unger, Petra (2005)
• Fire working group. Clines, Joanna; DiTomaso, Joe; Goode, Suzanne (2004)
• Flaming: A new tool for wildland weed control. Moore, Ken (2004)
• Weeds in wildland/urban interface fuelbreaks: Challenges and opportunities. Klein, Janet (2004)
• Fire on the mountain: A land manager’s manifesto for broom control. Swezy, Michael; Odion, Dennis C. (1997)
• A test of removal/control techniques for French broom. Bossard, Carla C.; Alvarez, M.; Archbald, G.; Gibson, R.; Gluesenkamp, D.; Grotkopf, E.; Jones, S.; Nelson, L. (1995)
• Use of fire to control French broom. Boyd, David (1995)

Other Genista monspessulana Information

• Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
• CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
• EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
• Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
• USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.

Additional photos