Leaf
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Moroccan broom
Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) Raynaud
Also known as: Pineapple broom
Family: Fabaceae
2 to 5 m tall
Borders and sunny, sheltered walls, free-draining soil even if poor
Flowering: June – July
Full sun
Hardy to about -12°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
In hot weather, its clusters of yellow flowers give off a scent surprisingly close to that of ripe pineapple — hence its common name 'pineapple broom'.
🍃 Leaves
Semi-evergreen to deciduous, trifoliate, covered with a silvery silky down
🌸 Flowers
Bright yellow, in dense upright racemes, giving off a strong scent of pineapple
🍎 Fruits
Flattened pods covered with silky hairs
🪵 Bark
Grey, silvery downy stems
🗺️ Distribution
Native to the Rif mountains of Morocco; introduced to Europe as an ornamental shrub
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very honey-rich, fragrant flowers, actively visited by bees
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted against a warm wall for its silvery foliage and its yellow flowering scented of pineapple
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Seeds and other parts slightly toxic if eaten (cytisine-type alkaloids, as in other brooms and laburnums); wash hands after handling.
🌿 Other Fabaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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