Cytisus procumbens Zeelandia

The Cytisus procumbens 'Zeelandia' is a variety of hybrid broom that is particularly floriferous, forming a flexible mass covered in lilac pink and cream flowers in spring. It is a modest-sized bush with slender arched green branches, whose tiny deciduous leaves fall early, before summer. Its fragrant, massive flowering attracts many pollinating insects. This variety works wonders on a slope, in a large rockery, or in a border.

The 'Zeelandia' Cytisus belongs to the large family of Fabaceae. It is a horticultural creation resulting from the cross-breeding between Cytisus (x) praecox and Cytisus (x) dallimorei 'Burkwoodii'. The Cytisus (x) praecox itself is a hybrid obtained by cross-breeding Cytisus multiflorus and C. purgans. It is a very hardy bush with very rapid growth, but with a short lifespan, which prefers fairly poor, sandy soils that are neutral to acidic. Its resistance to drought is good once it is well-rooted.

This early 'Zeelandia' broom, with a size of 1.50m (4.92 ft) in all directions, develops a bushy, dense habit, but with a light appearance due to its slender stems and very small trifoliate leaves that are discreet and few in number. The flexible, arched stems retain their green colour throughout the year, even in winter. The ephemeral, simple, alternate, narrow leaves, 5 to 10mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) in length fall rapidly in spring. The flowering takes place in April-May, depending on the region. A multitude of well-fragrant pea-like flowers, 1 to 2cm (0.39 to 0.78 in) in length, grouped towards the upper part of the branches, submerge the vegetation. The colour of the flowers evolves as they open: lilac pink dominates at blooming, then the flowers open to reveal shades of mauve and pale yellow to cream white. They are followed by the formation of small black pod-shaped fruits. Be careful when the pods fall as they can stain, lightly prune the bush after flowering. The lifespan of this plant is quite short, around 5 to 8 years.

Undemanding and drought-tolerant, the Cytisus (x) praecox 'Zeelandia' is an excellent sun-loving bush that thrives in well-drained to dry soil. Severe pruning after flowering is preferable to avoid fruiting, which quickly exhausts the plant. This also helps to maintain a compact habit that does not become bare at the base. In spring, the spectacle of its abundance of flowers and the fragrance they emit in calm weather is a marvel. Place it at the corner of the house, on a large slope, or in a large shrub border serving as a focal point in the centre of a small garden. It can be associated with many shrubs with foliage or spring flowering or summer flowering: other broom with white or pink flowers, abelias, a small white spirea or a Berberis Harlequin with pink foliage, for example. Also consider Nepetas and perennial geraniums to accompany it naturally.