Genista Flowers
Name : Genista Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Genista, (Genista pilosa)
Genista Description
Genista is a delicate, fragrant flower from the Pea Family (Leguimosae). Genista species are natives of Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia, with the greatest diversity in the Mediterranean region.
Common names include Genista, Broom, French Broom, Woadwaxen, Spanish Broom and Prickly Broom.
Genista are pure yellow, pea-shaped flowers with grey-green foliage. Its flowers are grouped along the branches in terminal clusters. Genista are sweet-scented, showy and so numerous that they appear like a continual mass of yellow blooms. Genista has very small, slightly hairy leaves, consisting of three leaflets similar in form to those of the common clove. Genista varies in height from a few inches to as tall as a man.
Genista thrive in full sun and normal, sandy soil with neutral to alkaline-acid nature. Genista prefer the soil to be dry to average moist, and are fairly easy to care for. Some species are considered invasive. Blossoms are available early summer and late spring.
As a cut flower, Genista is an excellent filler flower for mixed arrangements. Genista has a vase life of 7-10 days. With numerous yellow blooms, Genista adds vibrant colour to any flower arrangement.
One popular variety Genista pilosa commonly known as ‘Vancouver Gold’ or Creeping Broom is a fast-growing, evergreen creeper that thrives in hot, sunny sites. These plants form a carpet of grey-green stems that appear leafless. Beautiful bright yellow pea flowers smother the plant in late spring. Creeping Broom looks excellent on slopes, in the rock garden or in tubs and is drought tolerant once established.
Another variety Genista tinctoria (Dyer's Broom, also known as Dyer's Greenweed or Dyer's Greenwood), produces a yellow dye and was grown commercially for this purpose in parts of Britain up till the early 19th century. Wool cloth was dyed yellow with dyer's greenweed, then dipped into a vat of blue dye (woad or, later, indigo) to produce the once-famous "Kendal Green" colour, hence Kendal green is a local common name for this variety.
Genista Meaning
Genista juncea or Spanish Broom symbolizes “Cleanliness” while Genista spiniflora or Prickly Broom signifies “Misanthropy”.
Genista Mythology
Genista has left its mark on history as well: the Plantagenet kings used Common Broom ("planta genista" in Latin) as their royal crest and also took their name from it. The Common Broom was originally the emblem of Geoffrey of Anjou, father of Henry II of England and Wild Broom is still common in dry habitats around Anjou, France.
Welsh mythology tells the tale of Blodeuwedd, a woman made from the flowers of Broom, Meadowsweet and the Oak by Math fab Mathonwy and Gwydion to be the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Blodeuwedd’s story is a part of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, the tale of Math son of Mathonwy.
Moreover, a traditional rhyme from Sussex says:
"Sweep the house with blossed broom in May
Sweep the head of the household away."
Still it was also common to include a decorated bundle of Genista or Broom at weddings.
It is said that ashes of Genista were used to treat dropsy, while its strong smell was said to be able to tame wild horses and dogs.
