Genista tinctoria
Dyer's greenweed
Overview
Genista tinctoria is a deciduous shrub in the pea family, reaching 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide, with some forms growing taller and more open. The green, ridged stems stay photosynthetic and give the plant a green look through much of the year. Narrow lance-shaped leaves 0.5-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long line the slender stems. From June into July it bears upright clusters of bright yellow pea-shaped flowers 0.5 inch (12 mm) long at the stem tips, followed by flattened seed pods 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long that ripen brown. As a legume it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules and grows in poor, dry, sandy or rocky soils where many shrubs fail. The flowers have long been used to make a yellow dye, the source of the common name. Plants are short-lived and can become woody and sparse at the base after several years. G. tinctoria self-seeds freely and is listed as invasive in parts of the northeastern United States, where it spreads into pastures and open ground. It resents root disturbance and transplants poorly once established.
Native Range
Genista tinctoria is native across Europe and into western Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to the Caucasus. It grows in dry grasslands, heaths, open woodland, and rocky slopes on poor soils.Suggested Uses
Used on dry banks, in gravel and rock gardens, and in poor-soil borders where richer plants struggle, spaced 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) apart. Suits wildlife and pollinator plantings and stabilising sandy slopes. Its nitrogen fixation supports neighbouring plants on lean ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs from June into July, with yellow clusters opening at the tips of the current season''s growth. A lighter second flush can follow in late summer on vigorous plants. Bloom lasts roughly four to six weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun in poor to moderately fertile soil with sharp drainage; lean, sandy, or rocky ground suits it, and rich soil reduces flowering. Once established the plant tolerates drought and needs little water. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it needs no supplemental feeding, and fertiliser promotes lank growth. Set young plants in their final position early, since the deep roots resent disturbance and older plants move poorly. Light shearing after bloom keeps the habit dense and limits self-seeding. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7, it withstands cold and wind but not waterlogged soil.Pruning
Shear lightly after flowering to keep a compact shape and reduce seed set. Old leafless wood regrows slowly or not at all, so cuts are kept to green, leafy stems. Remove dead or weak stems at the base in early spring.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons