Witches Broom Shrub
The shoots are usually shorter stockier and have an upright but more compact growth habit than normal.
Witches broom shrub. Despite the beauty of its bright yellow spring flowers it can easily look disheveled if not pruned correctly. Fungal infections typically appear in pine or cherry trees as well as blackberry bushes while witches broom in peach and black locusts is likely the result of a virus. Witches brooms are characterized by a proliferation of shoots growing close together. Witches brooms may be caused by fungal viral or mycoplasma like organisms mlos. Unfortunately scotch broom also spreads rapidly and may become invasive. Quite often the cause of the witches broom can be determined by the species of tree. Witches broom is a symptom of stress found in woody plants mainly trees but also affects shrubs as well.
Pruning a scotch broom shrub must be done conservatively and at the correct season. Also known as scotch broom this prolific bloomer makes an attractive choice for home gardeners who want a showy low maintenance shrub. Broom shrub plants may get 9 feet 2 5 m tall and produce some spectacular bloom displays in spring. Twigs and branches of woody plants may die back. Witches broom symptom of plant disease that occurs as an abnormal brushlike cluster of dwarfed weak shoots arising at or near the same point. Witches brooms occur on a number of conifers and deciduous tree species. Most broom shrub varieties were originally introduced as ornamentals but some species became useful as erosion control.
With its shrubby full growth drought resistance and brilliant yellow pealike flowers scotch broom cytisus scoparius sounds like a plant with plenty to recommend it to gardeners. The stress results in a deformed mass of twigs and branches which appear broom like in appearance. A dense mass of shoots grows from a single point with the resulting structure resembling a broom or a bird s nest. Witch s broom or witches broom is a deformity in a woody plant typically a tree where the natural structure of the plant is changed. In the spring the shrub becomes covered with small bright yellow flowers. Scotch broom cystisus scoparius is an attractive shrub that rises to about 10 feet 3 m high with an open airy growth pattern. In other cases they appear as a ball shaped dwarf plant growing in a tree.
This includes deciduous trees and shrubs as well as conifers and evergreen varieties.