Butcher's Broom Plant Care

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus hypoglossum) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Ruscus genus. Butcher's Broom is native to Italy, north to Austria and Slovakia, and east to Turkey and Crimea. Butcher's Broom is also known as Spineless Butcher's Broom, Asparagus hypoglossus, Ruscus deflexus.

Butcher's Broom displays an upright, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Butcher's Broom produces small, inconspicuous flowers that are typically greenish-white or yellowish in color..

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Butcher's Broom every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Butcher's Broom thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Butcher's Broom in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Ruscus hypoglossum tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Butcher's Broom prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining soil mix. Good drainage is essential for Butcher's Broom to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Butcher's Broom every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light and well-draining soil mix. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Butcher's Broom is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Butcher's Broom can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Butcher's Broom while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Butcher's Broom is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Butcher's Broom can be propagated through division, rhizome cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to butcher's broom plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Butcher's Broom is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Butcher's Broom grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Butcher's Broom is native to Italy, north to Austria and Slovakia, and east to Turkey and Crimea.