Things You'll Need
Shovel
Coarse sand
Pruning shears
Spanish broom, or Spartium junceum, is a perennial flowering shrub native to the Mediterranean basin. Like most Mediterranean plant species, Spanish broom is hardy and thrives under arid conditions with little supplemental water, sending up 6- to 12-foot-tall stalks topped with pea-like yellow flowers in summer. The most important aspect of Spanish broom care is proper planting since this will determine the overall vitality of the plant, but it is otherwise a very low maintenance species and requires only light pruning and watering once established.
Step 1
Select a suitable spot for planting Spanish broom. Look for a spot with full sun and excellent drainage, but do not worry about soil type since it is not a picky species. Avoid shaded areas since the shrub will become leggy and thin-looking.
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Step 2
Dig a planting hole for the Spanish broom shrub measuring two to three times the volume of the original container. Line the bottom 2 inches of the hole with coarse sand to increase drainage. Settle the shrub in the hole and fill in around it.
Step 3
Water the Spanish broom plant deeply to approximately 4 inches immediately after planting. Water the shrub no more than 1 to 2 inches every 10 to 14 days after the initial watering. Avoid any supplemental water in moist, rainy climates or during periods of steady precipitation.
Step 4
Prune the Spanish broom shrub periodically during the flowering season. Remove the spent flower heads as they occur using a pair of sharp, sturdy pruning shears. Snip the stems straight across just above a pair of leaves to encourage a bushy shape in the plant.
Step 5
Hard prune the Spanish broom in late winter to control its size. Cut the stems to a uniform length using pruning shears. Remove no more than one-third of the old, woody growth when hard pruning the shrub to keep it from going into shock.
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