Sweet Broom Cytisus Spachianus

[MamaSheepdog]

Has anyone ever fed Sweet Broom? It is in the legume family. I have two young plants, but they are supposed to have a fast growth habit and reach 4'-5' tall and wide.

 

[hoodat]

That one is a problem. I've seen it on the list of toxic plants for rabbits but in garden forums I've also seen complaints about wild rabbits eating it and wild rabbits will seldom eat toxic plants since they have such a wide variety of greens to choose from.Our domestic rabbits are dependent on what we bring them so they will sometimes eat toxic plants if they are short of greens.
In herbal medicines it is used to treat some veinous problems such as varicose veins and hemerroids since it constricts the veins.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Thanks, Hoodat. Since the domestic and native rabbits are different species, it could be that they are adapted to different plants. Best not to risk it, at least until I have an "experimental bunny" to try it on. There isn't much of it yet anyway!

 

[hoodat]

Those lists of toxic plants aren't always accurate. I've seen burr clover listed as toxic but my rabbits eat it eagerly and I feed it in large amounts with no harm that I've ever seen. They eat it burrs and all so long as the burrs are still green. Good thing too. When we get any rain at all it grows in very large patches where I can just go out and harvest it from empty lots and hillsides.