Cytisus battandieri

Cytisus battandieri, or Pineapple Broom, is also called Argyrocytisus battandieri. With a summer flowering in clusters of golden-yellow flowers with a sweet pineapple fragrance, deciduous grey-green-silver silky foliage, and an open and airy habit, this North African bush has many qualities to feature in sunny gardens. Undemanding, moderately hardy, and well-suited to drought, it will bring an exotic and original touch to the garden, with a few precautions during its installation.

The Pineapple Broom belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is native to Morocco, in the Middle Atlas and the Rif. This bush has a rapid growth rate and reaches an adult size of 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) in height and 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft) in spread.

The Pineapple Broom is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree with an open and airy habit and long, flexible branches. The flowers range from lemon-yellow to golden-yellow and are grouped in dense terminal clusters measuring 5 to 15cm (2 to 6in) in length. They appear in May-June-July and emit a pineapple scent. They are followed by the formation of upright and silky pods, 3.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long, with toxic seeds. The grey-green leaves and young shoots are covered in a fine silky down, which is accentuated by heat and drought. The leaves, divided into three leaflets, have an enhanced outline with a shiny silver edge, making them very decorative.

Cytisus battandieri can be used at the back of a border, to fill a large slope, or against a sunny wall. Plant it near a terrace to fully enjoy its astonishing fragrance.