Argyrocytisus | |
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Cambridge University Botanic Garden | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Tribe: | Genisteae |
Genus: | Argyrocytisus (Maire) Raynaud (1974 publ. 1975) |
Species: | A. battandieri
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Binomial name | |
Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) J.Raynal (1974 publ. 1975)
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Synonyms[1] | |
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Argyrocytisus battandieri, the pineapple broom[2] or Moroccan broom[3] is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is the only member of the genus Argyrocytisus (formerly Cytisus battandieri).[4][5][6]
It is native to the Rif and Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco.[1] It is a substantial deciduous shrub growing to 4 metres (13 ft) tall and wide, with trifoliate grey-green leaves, and erect racemes of yellow flowers with a distinctive pineapple scent. Grown in a sheltered location, it is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F).
The cultivar 'Yellow Tail' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] It was introduced to the UK as recently as 1922, and for a long time was thought less hardy than plants have proved.[7]