How to Prune Cytisus Battandieri

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: May 1, 2023 References

Cytisus battandieri, also known as Pineapple Broom or Argyrocytisus battandieri, is a shrub that produces large yellow flowers in the summer that smell like pineapple. Pruning a Cytisus battandieri will help maintain its shape and encourage new and healthy flowers to bloom every summer. To successfully prune a Cytisus battandieri, you’ll want to focus on removing any dead or disruptive shoots from the shrub. You’ll also want to prune the shrub differently if it’s trained against a wall. By using sharp pruning shears and properly cutting back the shrub, you can help the Cytisus battandieri you’re pruning thrive year after year.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Pruning a Free-Standing Cytisus Battandieri

1
Wait until after the shrub has finished flowering to prune it. Cytisus battandieri flowers during the summer, usually around mid-summer once it's warmer. Aim to prune the shrub around this time, after all the blooms have faded.^{[1]
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- Pruning a Cytisus battandieri before it’s flowered could cause it to not flower properly.^{[2]
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2
Remove any diseased shoots from the shrub with pruning shears. Make sure the shears are sharp so you can make clean cuts. Inspect the shoots carefully to see if there’s anything out of place growing on them. If you find a fungus or growth on one of the shoots, use pruning shears to cut it off at the base of the shoot.^{[3]
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- Remember to cut at the base of the shoot and not down by the roots. The base of the shoot is where the shoot branches off from the rest of the shrub.
- Always cut offshoots above any new buds forming at the base of the shoot.
- Honey fungus often affects Cytisus battandieri. Look for gold and brown mushroom caps growing on the shrub.^{[4]
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Damaged or dead shoots will look brown, wilted, and dry. Cut them off at the base of the shoot using the pruning shears.^{[5]
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If there are any shoots that are longer than the rest and stick out from the shrub, you can cut them back using the pruning shears. Use annual pruning as an opportunity to encourage the shrub to grow into a shape you like. Cytisus battandieri are often shaped to be fuller and rounder.^{[6]
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5
Add a fresh layer of mulch to the base of the shrub after pruning. Water the soil around the shrub until it is wet, and then spread a layer of mulch that is 2 inches (5 cm) to 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick. Use an organic mulch like wood chippings or compost. Organic mulches add beneficial nutrients to the soil.^{[7]
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- You can find organic mulch at your local gardening center.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Pruning a Wall-Trained Cytisus Battandieri

Pruning before flowering can result in the shrub not flowering properly. Cytisus battandieri flower during the summer, so wait until around mid-summer before you prune one, once all of the flowers have faded.^{[8]
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2
Tie in some new growth on the shrub to fill gaps in front of the wall. New growth on the shrub provides an opportunity to improve the appearance of the shrub against the wall, so take advantage of new shoots before you do any pruning. Pull in some of the new shoots and use garden twine to tie them to whatever the shrub is trained to the wall on, whether it’s wiring, a trellis, or a screen.^{[9]
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- Be careful not to tie the new growth too tightly to the wall structure or you could damage the shoot.
- The shoots of the shrub should fan outward as they get higher up on the wall structure.
3
Use pruning shears to cut back any shoots that have grown too long. Look for any shoots that are so long they disrupt the even, shaped appearance of the shrub. Cut them back to match the other shoots.^{[10]
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- When cutting back the shoots, cut close to and above a bud, but avoid cutting into the bud itself.^{[11]
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This includes any shoots that are broken, dried out, or shriveled up. Use the pruning shears to cut them off at the base.^{[12]
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Look through the gap in between the shrub and the wall to check for new shoots growing in the direction of the wall. Clip the wall-facing shoots with the pruning shears.^{[13]
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First water the shrub until the surrounding soil is wet. Make sure the layer of mulch is between 2 inches (5 cm) and 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick. You can use wood chippings, compost, or another type of organic mulch to add nutrients to the soil.

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Question

Will it grow in a large tub?

Ninox

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Yes, but you have to plant it in a very large tub to avoid disrupting the roots.

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Question

It flowered the best it ever has last year, but this year there's no leaves and only tiny grey shoots. No sign of life, but when I cut a branch from last year, it is green inside. No sign of disease. Any ideas?

Ninox

Top Answerer

If the branches are green inside, that means that the plant it still alive. Try to add fertilizer and ensure it has enough sun and water.

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