Desert Broom

Desert Broom

Natural History

Desert Broom is a member of the Sunflower Family.

It is a medium sized shrub to 10 feet in height and has bright green, sticky leaves to 1.5 inches in length and 1/8 inches in width. The plant typically grows in washes, hillsides and along streams at elevations between 1000 - 5500 feet.

Not surprisingly, given its name, the branches of the Desert Broom were used by early pioneers for brooms.

Desert Broom typically blooms between September - February and produces small, whitish, rayless flowers to 3/8 inches in width which grow from the end of the stems. Male and female flowers appear on separate plants, with female plants producing white, silky airborne seeds when mature.

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