Cytisus Maria Burkwood

Cytisus 'Maria Burkwood' is a charming variety of broom, with its variegated flowering in pink, red, yellow, and white. It forms a compact bush, requiring no maintenance other than a light trim after flowering. This broom is not demanding, tolerating poor, sandy soil, which is neutral to acidic. It thrives in full sun and its hardiness allows it to be planted anywhere. An easy and spectacular plant in spring, ideal for filling a sunny slope or energizing a flower bed.

Cytisus 'Maria Burkwood' belongs to the large Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) family, one of the most important in the plant kingdom, both in terms of species and economically. It includes beans, soybeans, peas, alfalfa, and clover. Many representatives of this family are capable of fixing nitrogen from the air and are widely used in agriculture as green manure to improve soils.

'Maria Burkwood' grows relatively fast to reach a height of 1.5m (5ft) with an equal width. Its compactness and resistance to pollution make it a great choice for small urban gardens. The flexible, green-coloured stems bear small deciduous leaves with three leaflets. In May-June, papilionaceous flowers measuring 2cm (1in) in length cover the branches in an explosion of variegated colours, ranging from pink to red, with hints of yellow and white. They are followed by the formation of fruits that develop into green and then black pods, which are best removed by lightly pruning the plant. This prevents it from wasting energy on fruit production and allows for the renewal of branches. The lifespan of this plant is relatively short, around 5 to 8 years, but this should not deter you from planting it, as its ornamental value is remarkable. Furthermore, this bush is easy to care for, hardy down to -15°C (5°F), and is also wind-resistant.

Cytisus 'Maria Burkwood' is a spring star with its dazzling flowering. It stands out from afar despite its modest size. With its thin stems and small leaves, it becomes more discreet after flowering. Therefore, it is advisable to plant it with other shrubs that bloom later in order to create a decorative flower bed all year round. Among the plants suitable for the same soil conditions and compact size as our little broom, choose the beautiful Vitex 'Blue Puffball' with aromatic foliage and lavender-blue flowers, Cotinus coggygria 'Lilla', a dwarf variety of smoke tree with purple foliage, or Choisya ternata 'Sundance', a Mexican orange with golden spring foliage and a double flowering in spring and autumn.