Dyer's
Broom
Table of Contents
- Description
- Origin
- Uses
- Culture
- Sources
- Thanks to...
Genista tinctoria
Family: Leguminosae (Pea family)
Common names: dyer's greenweed, Genista broom,
dyer's broom
Description
G. tinctoria is a variable, deciduous, shrub that grows
approximately 1m high. Leaves are narrow, bright green and are about
2.5cm long. Yellow flowers are borne in spikes at the ends of branches
and resemble pea flowers.
Origin
Europe, western Asia: dyer's broom is not a significant commercial
crop and is mostly grown domestically as a dye plant although it
has been used historically as a medicinal plant. Alkaloids in Genista
are known to affect the heart and respiration.
Uses of Dyer's Broom and Claims
- Culinary: none
- Medicinal: has been used to treat gout, rheumatism, dropsy,
as a diuretic, purgative, acts as a weak cardiac stimulant and
vasoconstrictor.
- Industrial: flowering tops produce a good quality yellow
dye, and when combined with woad produces a green dye.
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Culture
- Propagation: It can be propagated from seed in spring
or autumn and semiripe cuttings. Does not transplant well.
- Soil type: Dyer's Broom will tolerate dry, poor, sandy
soil, and prefers a sunny site that is well drained.
- Culture: Pruning is not required although the shoots
can be shaped by thinning out after the plant has flowered.
- Harvest: Cut leafy branches before seed has set. The
dried herb has a 1 year shelf-life.
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Sources
- Brown, D. 1995. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Readers
Digest press
- Bremness, L. 1994. Herbs. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London.
- Richters Herb Catalogue 1998.
Thanks to
This demonstration garden was a result of the efforts
of Dr. Alan McKeown, Vegetable Scientist, University of Guelph and
was made possible with grants from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Association and the Tobacco Diversification Program.
The information on this page was originally written by Jan Schooley,
former Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Specialist.
