Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link – broom, Scotch broom or English broom

Cytisus scoparius is a leguminous shrub that is a serious weed of cool climate areas in south-eastern Australia. Biological control for Australia was initiated because of large infestations in the Barrington Tops region of NSW. A biological control program against broom has been underway since 1993, carried out by several state and federal agencies, much of it in collaboration with other countries, particularly New Zealand. This program has resulted in the release of three insects and a mite in Australia. All the agents have established somewhere in Australia and a number are causing slight damage in southern NSW, Vic and Tas. No significant damage to broom has occurred at the Barrington Tops, but the mite was only released in this area in 2010. Biological control of broom has not been considered a success to date despite considerable ecological research suggesting natural enemies are important in the invasion dynamics of broom.