A deciduous shrub 3 to 4 ft high; shoots erect, terete, very hairy. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1⁄3 to 11⁄4 in. long, 1⁄12 to 3⁄8 in. wide, tapered at the base, narrowed to a short point or bristle, appressed-hairy on both surfaces. Flowers 3⁄4 in. long, aggregated at and near the summit of the leafy shoots, pale yellow spotted with brown; calyx and pod very hairy; standard petal downy outside. Blossoms in June and July.
Native of Central Europe. This is one of the group of brooms characterised by a tubular calyx to which C. supinus and C. hirsutus belong. It has no outstanding merit but is equally hardy.