Help me identify this shrub in my new house yard.
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in USDA hardiness zone 6/7.
Should I cut it back? When should I do that? Also how can I propagate it?
Picture of plant in bloom:
Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for gardeners and landscapers. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityHelp me identify this shrub in my new house yard.
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in USDA hardiness zone 6/7.
Should I cut it back? When should I do that? Also how can I propagate it?
Picture of plant in bloom:
It's a Cytisus, as the others say. As far as pruning goes, clip over the bush lightly immediately after flowering, removing only about an inch of foliage, every year, although while its still young (as this one is) you can take more. Once the plant is bigger, If you cut into old wood, it does not regrow, and if you cut the whole thing back into old wood, it will die. They're fairly short lived shrubs anyway though, compared to other plants.
As this is a hybrid, it will not come true from any seed it may produce, so propagate via semi ripe cuttings with a heel, taken in late summer. Pot up as soon as possible (when they have developed a root system) and pinch the growth out once it reaches about 10 inches to make bushier plants.