Vibrant yellow flowers of the Scotch broom plant may look cheerful, but it is an invasive species that chokes out native flora and fauna and creates a serious fire risk, according to City of Powell River fire chief Terry Peters.
“It’s what we consider a flash fuel; that means if it catches fire it goes up very quickly and it’ll throw its embers and catch more on fire,” said Peters. “The plant is a survivor. Fire doesn’t kill it. It’ll sprout again after.”
Peters works on a volunteer basis for an organization called Broom Busters. As the name suggests, its mission is to eradicate the plant and its risk from the community.
The group organizes community broom cutting events. Peters also encourages individuals to cut it down wherever they see it.
“It’s like picking up litter,” he said. “If you see it, lop it.”
Once cut, the broom can be left on the side of the road to be picked up later by a city crew or Broom Buster volunteers.
“Just let us know where it is,” said Peters.
The key is to cut broom close to the root without uprooting it or disrupting the root system as this spreads the up to 18,000 seeds a large plant can produce.
“All the seeds need is a little bit of sunlight and ‘boom’ they start growing,” said Peters. “If you cut them low it kills the roots because all the energy is in the plant and the flower.”
Local elementary schools have also joined in the broom busting. At Westview Elementary School, grade three classes learned about invasive plants and then spent an afternoon identifying and ridding the area behind their school of broom. It was hands-on learning at its best, according to grade three teacher Lisa Traer.
“We’re learning about plants, animals and ecosystems and we jumped on this opportunity,” she said. “All the kids worked as a team and at the very end we had a massive pile of all the broom we cut.”
There are pockets of broom around the community that are currently being targeted, including an area behind Henderson Elementary School near Hemlock Street and behind the Woodgrove Apartments on Joyce Avenue. Air quality is another issue, as many people have allergies to the plant.
“There are some people who just stay inside this time of year,” said Peters. If we can clear it, it helps give them some fresher air to breathe in their own neighbourhood.”
Peters said he is optimistic that much can be accomplished with education and community involvement.
“A lot of people think, ‘it’s only broom we’ll never get it,’ but that’s not true at all,” he added. “Qualicum Beach started this program 10 years ago and they’re broom-free. I absolutely see that as being achievable for Powell River.”
To become involved with one of the community events, go to broombusters.org/powell-river.
