Climate Matching Map
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| climatematch-spartium_junceum-nevada-20250310.pdf (1.14 MB) | 1.14 MB |
1. Question 1
Yes
1
Very High
Spartium junceum is native to Southwestern Europe, including locations such as Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands. It was introduced as an ornamental to California in the 19th century and has since become naturalized across parts of the U.S. (Zouhar, 2005)(USDA, 2005)(GBIF, 2025). Other areas where this plant has naturalized include Central and South America, Southern Africa, and Australia (Weedwise, 2023)(Geerts, 2013).
Government, NSW. 2023. NSW WeedWise. https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/SpanishBroom.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
Facility, GBIF-the Global Biodiversity Information. 2025. “Spartium Junceum L”. https://www.gbif.org/species/5355395.
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
2. Question 2
Yes
2
Medium
Populations that match the climate of Nevada are few and dispersed. Most of the recorded observations appear to be from populations that are cultivated rather than naturalized however there are two research grade wild observations. Both of these observations occur within El Paso, Texas along trails.
Facility, GBIF-the Global Biodiversity Information. 2025. “Spartium Junceum L”. https://www.gbif.org/species/5355395.
3. Question 3
Yes
2
Very High
Spartium junceum is noted as being invasive along the West Coast of the United States and is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds (CAL-IPC, 2022)(Zouhar, 2005). This plant has been referred to as a "transformer species" in the Sierra Nevada ecosystem for its impact on resources and disturbance to regimes (D'Antonio, 2004). It's invasive qualities include copious seed production, alteration of soil nutrients, and self-seeding tendencies (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2025).
Antonio, Carla M. D, Eric L. Berlow, and Karen L. Haubensak. 2004. “Invasive Exotic Plant Species in Sierra Nevada Ecosystems”. In: Murphy, Dennis D. And Stine, Peter A., Editors. Proceedings of the Sierra Nevada Science Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-193. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 175-184 193. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/26503.
Garden, Missouri Botanical. 2025. Spartium Junceum - Plant Finder. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/PlantFinderDetails….
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
-IPC, Cal. n.d. “Spartium Junceum Profile - California Invasive Plant Council”. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/spartium-junceum-profile/.
4. Question 4
No
0
Medium
Populations that match the climate of Nevada are few and dispersed. Most of the recorded observations appear to be from populations that are cultivated rather than naturalized however there are two research grade wild observations. Both of these observations occur within El Paso, Texas along trails. There is no specific mention of these occurrences exhibiting invasive behavior but the pictures do depict several towering stands of S. junceum.
Facility, GBIF-the Global Biodiversity Information. 2025. “Spartium Junceum L”. https://www.gbif.org/species/5355395.
5. Question 5
No
0
Medium
No other closely related species belonging to the same genus has been noted to be invasive in a similar climate to the Nevada Region(GBIF, 2025).
Facility, GBIF-the Global Biodiversity Information. 2025. “Spartium Junceum L”. https://www.gbif.org/species/5355395.
6. Question 6
No
0
Very High
Spartium junceum is found predominantly in areas that do not match that of Nevada's climate. The vast majority of incidences are recorded in subtropical Mediterranean and temperate climates (GBIF, 2025).
Facility, GBIF-the Global Biodiversity Information. 2025. “Spartium Junceum L”. https://www.gbif.org/species/5355395.
7. Question 7
Yes
1
Very High
Yes, Spartium junceum is known to displace native plants by crowding them as well as outcompeting plants in disturbed habitats (Zouhar, 2005) (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2025). Once established, S. junceum has been known to form monospecific stands (Cal-IPC).
Garden, Missouri Botanical. 2025. Spartium Junceum - Plant Finder. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/PlantFinderDetails….
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
8. Question 8
Yes
1
Very High
Spanish broom is considered a fire hazard during the dry season(Bossard, 2000). As a result, fire appears to promote the growth of this species as it thrives in disturbed areas. This plant is noted as having fire-adapted morphological traits such as storing the majority of its dead fuel at its base, favoring fire ignition (Castagneri, 2013). Finally, in an experiment testing seedling germination under varying dry heat temperatures it was found that conditions of 50 degrees celsius to 110 degrees celsius promoted S. junceum seed germination (Travlos, 2007). The temperatures selected were based on the aboveground and slightly below ground soil temperatures during fires in Africa.
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
Castagneri, Daniele. 2013. “Fuel Vertical Structure Affects Fire Sustainability and Behaviour of Prescribed Burning in Spartium Junceum Shrublands Annals of Forest Science Full Text”. Annals of Forest Science. https://annforsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s13595-013-0327-3.
Travlos, IS, G Economou, and AJ Karamanos. 2007. “Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence of Spartium Junceum L. In Response to Heat and Other Pre-Sowing Treatments”. Journal of Agronomy 6: 152.
9. Question 9
Yes
1
High
This species has been noted to be unpalatable to most livestock thus decreasing rangeland value (CAL-IPC, 2023). Aside from causing allergies, this plant is toxic to humans (Geerts, 2013)(Calflora, 2025).
.org, Calflora. 2025. “Spartium Junceum Calflora”. https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=7704.
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
-IPC, Cal. n.d. “Spartium Junceum Profile - California Invasive Plant Council”. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/spartium-junceum-profile/.
10. Question 10
Yes
1
Very High
Yes, this plant forms dense thickets that intertwine and create barriers to animals that can be taller than 5 feet. (Zouhar, 2005)(Geerts, 2013)(Bossard, 2000).
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
11. Question 11
No
0
Medium
Spartium junceum seems to reproduce almost exclusively through seed, regularly self-seeding and spreading its propagules via water (Geerts, 2013)(Missouri Botanical Garden, 2025). It can however, resprout from damaged or disconnected root crowns (CAL-IPC, 2023)
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Garden, Missouri Botanical. 2025. Spartium Junceum - Plant Finder. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/PlantFinderDetails….
-IPC, Cal. n.d. “Spartium Junceum Profile - California Invasive Plant Council”. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/spartium-junceum-profile/.
12. Question 12
No
0
Medium
Spartium junceum can resprout from the root crown if it is cut or grazed but this doesn't seem to be a method of reproduction that the plant relies on (CAL-IPC, 2023).
-IPC, Cal. n.d. “Spartium Junceum Profile - California Invasive Plant Council”. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/spartium-junceum-profile/.
13. Question 13
Yes
1
Very High
This plant is known for its copious seed production (Bossard, 2000). Just one plant can produce up to 10,000 seeds in a single season (Zouhar, 2005).
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
14. Question 14
Yes
1
Very High
This plant is known for its copious seed production (Bossard, 2000). Just one plant can produce up to 10,000 seeds in a single season (Zouhar, 2005).
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
15. Question 15
Yes
1
Very High
Several experiments testing the germination rate of Spanish Broom found a nearly 100% germination with little pretreatment (Zouhar, 2005).
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
16. Question 16
Yes
1
Very High
This plant is known to produce seed after about two or three years of growth (Bassard, 2000)(Zouhar, 2005).
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
17. Question 17
No
0
High
The bloom period of Spartium junceum in Mediterranean climates is through April to June yearly (Calflora, 2025)(Zouhar, 2005).
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
.org, Calflora. 2025. “Spartium Junceum Calflora”. https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=7704.
18. Question 18
No
0
Medium
The plants propagules are not spread by birds or mammals (Geerts, 2013). There is evidence to suggest that seeds are dispersed somewhat by ants but what distance is covered as a result is unknown (Zouhar, 2005).
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
19. Question 19
Yes
1
High
Yes, rainwash is noted as a significant form of dispersal for this plant's propagules. The seeds are buoyant in water (Bossard, 2000)(Zouhar, 2005)(Geerts, 2013).
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
Geerts, Sjirk, Pieter W. Botha, Vernon Visser, David M. Richardson, and John R.U. Wilson. 2013. “Montpellier Broom (Genista Monspessulana) and Spanish Broom (Spartium Junceum) in South Africa: An Assessment of Invasiveness and Options for Management”. South African Journal of Botany 87: 134-45. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.03.019.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
20. Question 20
No
0
High
Seeds are found within a dehiscent legume. Neither seed nor seedpod appears to have any appendages that would suggest dispersal through strictly anthropogenic means (Bossard, 2000)(Zouhar, 2005).
Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, and Marc C. Hoshovsky. 2000. Invasive Plants of California S Wildlands. University of California Press.
Service, USDA Forest, and Kris Zouhar. 2005. “Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) Species: Spartium Junceum”. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/spajun/all.html.
Total PRE Score
14
20
84
