Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom

With its stunning bi-colored flowers, the Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom is a great shrub for adding some early summer color to the garden. Displaying bright yellow flowers with orange centers on angular green stems, this scotch broom is perfect for adding some interest and height. Growing to around 8 feet tall, Cytisus Madame Butterfly is made for growing in the middle or back of the border. 

The Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom is not only tough and hardy but deer resistant as well, which makes it ideal for any rural location. Being tolerant of salt and wind, it is also suitable for seaside locations. Originally from Europe, this cultivar can be grown in zones 5 to 8. It is considered drought tolerant and can put up with a fair bit of neglect. 

Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom Care

The Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom prefers to be grown where it will receive full sun; a south-facing spot is usually where it is happiest. It requires a sandy and free-draining soil and will struggle in areas prone to waterlogging. It needs regular watering for the first couple of years; once it is established, it generally only needs extra moisture during prolonged dry spells. Scotch brooms thrive in poor soils and seldom require any fertilizer.

Since scotch brooms flower on old wood, any pruning must be performed immediately after flowering. To prune this shrub, simply remove any dead or damaged wood and shape as needed. It is recommended to remove no more than one-third of its growth each year. 

Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom Spacing

When mature, this scotch broom can reach a size of 5-8 feet high and wide. If growing this shrub as part of an informal hedge, it can be planted around 4-6 feet apart.

Madame Butterfly Scotch Broom Information