Native to the Balkans, Turkey and Syria, this low growing shrub is evergreen in areas with warm winters and deciduous in areas with cold winters. It is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes beans, mimosa and black locust. Plants grow 1-2′ tall and are multibranched, with arching stems and open form. The oval leaves are up to 1/2″ long, pinnately veined, and spaced about 1/2″ apart. Clusters of fragrant bright yellow pea-type flowers 0’4″ long appear in late spring and give way to flat, oblong, brown fruits containing 3-8 seeds and maturing in the fall. G. lydia is tolerant of poor soil, salt, heat, and drought and is an excellent choice for a xeriscape where it can be used as a specimen or ground cover, as well as in a garden border, foundation planting, rock garden, or fragrance garden. The genus name, Genista, is the Latin name for the plant known as broom. The specific epithet, lydia, refers to the ancient Iron Age kingdom in western Turkey.
Type: Flowering deciduous to evergreen shrub
Outstanding Feature: Fragrant flowers
Form: Arching, trailing
Growth Rate: Slow
Bloom: Clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers in late spring
Size: 1-2′ H x 2-3′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average to poor, medium to dry, well-drained, alkaline; heat and drought tolerant
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Care: Low maintenance; prune immediately after flowering if necessary and never hard-prune.
Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but susceptible to aphids, gall mites, honey fungus
Propagation: Seed, semi-hardwood cutting
Outstanding Selection:
Bangle (12″ tall)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia