‘Glistening Patches of Gold’: The Environmental History of Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) on Southern Vancouver Island, 1848-1950

Abstract

This paper argues that the well-known invasive weed, Scotch broom, which was introduced to southern Vancouver Island both intentionally and unintentionally in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, is a localized example of ecological imperialism. The unique biology of broom is often credited for its rapid spread. However, cultural factors played an important role in its naturalization. Furthermore, broom illustrates the subjective and constructed nature of “weeds.”