Cytisus (Cytisus maderensis)

The Cytisus maderensis is a native species of Madeira, the Canary Islands and the entire region of the Mediterranean. This spreading upright shrub can reach up to 2 meters in height and a width of 1 meter, its foliage being semi-evergreen and showing a perfumed flowering in clusters that covers the entire plant. It grows in normal, well-drained soil, even limestone. It is an isolated, edge rock plant in hot regions.

The genus Cytisus includes approximately 60 species from North Africa, the Canary Islands, Europe, and western Asia.

characteristics

The Cytisus maderensis is a woody shrub, short stem, which gives a spread ramifications face. Young stems are longitudinally furrowed and have a pubescent surface, while their leaves are alternately arranged and originate from the petiole.

These consist of three elliptical to linear-lanceolate leaves, the middle one being larger than the remaining two. The upper surfaces of the leaflets are green and sparsely pubescent or glabrous, and the lower surfaces are pubescent.

Its pea-like flowers are yellow in shape. They are quite numerous and are presented separately or in small bundles that can contain from 3 to 9 flowers. They appear at the terminals of the stems and on their lateral branches and have five green sepals that are partially joined at the base in the calyx tube, a short tube.

Its standard petal is larger than the contiguous ones ; while the lower ones are shown folded. The flowering of this plant occurs at different stages of the year, either at the end of winter, spring and summer.

The fruit is a kind of soft pod, which changes color according to its maturation from green to brown. The flattened pods contain five to eight seeds and are rolled up once opened.

In relation to its exposure to the sun, it should be exposed in sunny, spacious spaces that have excellent ventilation, because this plant is prone to withering in closed spaces. If you plan to have an apartment, it is recommended to place it on balconies or terraces, as long as the weather is not very cold. It is not very tolerant to low temperatures, but to heat. When it is in the open, its survival could only put it at risk in a severe and prolonged drought.

Fertilization and irrigation of Cytisus maderensis

It is preferable to fertilize it in the autumn and spring seasons, using common fertilizers, as well as a liquid fertilizer accompanied by irrigation. During spring and summer it is advisable to carry out normal watering, while in winter it should be scarce.

However, when watering specimens that are in the garden or in pots, it is good to make sure that the soil is quite dry. Now, if they are planted outdoors, irrigation can be avoided except during dry seasons.

Spread

Its propagation by seed should be carried out in the month of March placing the seeds at a shallow depth in mixed soil with a little sand added. When the plants reach 7 to 10 cm in height, they should be grafted into individual pots.

Propagation by cuttings can be carried out between the months of April and May, taking the specimens of the new shoots together with a piece of stem bark. After the lower leaves are removed, they are planted in pots with a content of peat and sand in similar parts.

Diseases

In this species various symptoms are usually observed that are related to possible diseases caused by attacks by insects or pests, and if there is presence of small whitish-looking insects on the leaves or shoots of the plant, it may be aphids that are mobile insects quite small, yellowish-white in appearance that attack plants, and can even cause death. In this case it is advisable to wash the leaves and stem or apply a specific insecticide for this type of pest.

Now and if the leaves turn yellow and fine spider webs are observed, specifically on the underside of the leaves, it is a clear sign of the presence of red mites. To remove them, the sheets can be cleaned manually with soap.