Jamaican Broom

Chamaecrista glandulosa

Native to:
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Chamaecrista
Species:
Chamaecrista glandulosa
USDA Symbol:
CHGL6

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Subshrub
Height:
60 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from root crown after fire and readily colonizes burned areas from soil seed bank.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Commonly found in open, sunny areas; tolerates poor soil fertility.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Seeds may germinate without treatment but at lower rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI