These bushes showed up this spring all over the field by my house. Since they showed up yellow pollen has been all over and my typically minor allergies have been debilitating. Can anyone help me figure out what they are?
by exploringraider
These bushes showed up this spring all over the field by my house. Since they showed up yellow pollen has been all over and my typically minor allergies have been debilitating. Can anyone help me figure out what they are?
by exploringraider
16 Comments
Not sure what this plant is, looks like something in *Fabaceae,* but a good rule of thumb is that if something has big showy flowers like this, it’s not the source of your allergy problems. Flowers generally attract pollinators, which means the pollen is too heavy to be airborne. They need the pollinators to spread the pollen from flower to flower and from plant to plant. Airborne pollen, like that of ragweed and many coniferous species, is airborne. Ragweed and conifers do have flowers, they’re just veeeerrry tiny and inconspicuous. But they rely on wind for pollination and are frequently the source of seasonal allergies for many people.
Looks like scotch broom, I think in the pea family. Hate the stuff. If you are in the US it is highly invasive. The seeds explode away from the plant in a pretty far arc and stay viable for a long time. It will absolutely slaughter you if you have allergies and it is very hard to get rid of if you let it go to seed. If you can, get rid of it. Good luck.
Generally speaking, “pretty” flowers don’t have wind-borne pollen. They’re typically attracting some sort of animal (insects) and have sticky pollen that will stick to them.
This is a classic case of correlation =/= causation. It’s much more likely some type of tree/woody plant/grass causing your pollen issues.
The plant is some sort of Fabacea, the pea and bean family.
*Cytisus scoparius*, aka ‘Scotch Broom’. Invasive and lines the highways in my state of Washington. Most definitely triggers allergies.
scotch broom,
Looks like gorse to me, if im correct then the flowers are edible and make a palatable tea, nothing too exciting but ingesting the pollen that way might help with the allegies if you do it regularly. I dont know why but Ive been told to only consume small quantities
For what i know this is mustard. It grows alot in my area and when you see black seeds in it then this is mustard seeds you can collect them and grind and have a natural mustard.
I’m in the same region as you, and scotch broom is as invasive as Himalayan blackberry and poison oak. In fact, the patch of scotch broom that I’m working on killing cohabitates with poison oak, so it’s been a fun journey. Best technique I’ve found is to wear boots, jeans, long sleeves, long gardening gloves, lop the scotch broom at the base and pull the poison oak to get as many of the runners as you can. Good luck!
Gorse, it smells like suntan lotion ☀️
[Official wiki about it](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulex) as I can see it’s called different things in different countries. I recently bought a variety that has vivid pink/burgundy flowers ☺️
Eww Scotch Broom, it’s so invasive, it is everywhere in the area I live. There are hillsides that are solid yellow this time of the year. Pretty when it’s bloomed but spreads like wildfire.
Yup, Cytisus scoparius. Invasive (in “North America”), allelopathic (has compounds to suppress the growth of other plants), flammable. Shit plant. [https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/images/weeds/Scotch_broom_brochure_June_2015.pdf](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/images/weeds/Scotch_broom_brochure_June_2015.pdf)
Scotch broom. Best way to reduce plants is to cut it down while blooming unfortunately.
That’s Scotch Broom. If it’s on your property and you’re in the US, please feel free to rip it out of the ground and destroy it.
cut in bloom! now is the best time to remove them
Scotch broom, when we lived on a farm it’s everywhere and digging out the roots are next to impossible. Good luck!! 🙃
NorCal checking in…we call it Sweet Broom…it smells amazing but is very invasive. It’s very responsive to shaping but takes a lot of maintenance…great for steep hillside erosion control but terrible for wildfires…