Wholesale Butcher's broom

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information about butchers broom

description
Butchers Broom is a low evergreen shrub of the Asparagaceae family, with flat shoots known as cladodes that give the appearance of stiff, spine-tipped leaves. Small greenish flowers appear in spring, and are borne singly in the centre of the cladodes. The female flowers are followed by a red berry, and the seeds are bird-distributed, but the plant also spreads vegetatively by means of rhizomes.

common names & nomenclature
Butchers Broom is named this because butchers bundled the branches and used them for brooms in their shops.

Also known as:
butcher’s broom, jew’s myrtle, sweet broom, kneeholy, pettigree, knee holly, kneeholm

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for butchers broom

Butcher’s Broom is found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting butchers broom

climate
Butcher’s Broom grows in woodlands and hedgerows, where it is tolerant of deep shade, and also on coastal cliffs. It is also widely planted in gardens.

soil
Grows well in sandy or loamy soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils.

growing
Sow the seed thinly in early spring in a cold frame in light shade. The seed germinates better if it is given a period of cold stratification. Germination can be rather slow, sometimes taking 12 months or more. Grow the seedlings in a shady spot of the greenhouse for their first growing season. Over time, the plants mature and develop the prized butcher's broom root.

Transplant into individual pots in the following spring and grow them on for at least another year in the pots before planting them out in early summer. Be very sure to protect the seedlings from slugs. Plants can be divided in early spring—larger divisions can be planted directly into the garden. It's best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

harvesting
Young shoots are harvested in the spring (for use in cooking), mature shoots harvested later and bunched together (for making brooms). Seeds can be collected and roasted. Harvest the rhizome in the fall.

preserving
Dry the rhizome completely and cut into small pieces to be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

04.
The Rest of the Story

additional information

Butcher's broom sounds like a violent herb, but in reality it's a very gentle one. It's a plant that resembles asparagus in its twig like nature. Its name actually came from its use in butcher shops. The twigs were actually tied together and used literally as brooms.

IIn ancient Greece, butcher’s broom was traditionally used in herbal practices associated with circulatory comfort, particularly in relation to blood vessels. The Romans also incorporated the plant into their botanical traditions for similar purposes. Today, butcher’s broom continues to be valued primarily for its long history of use and its role in traditional herbal systems.

Butcher's broom root can be used externally or taken internally.

Internally, you can take butcher's broom as a tonic. Usually, you just add a ½ ounce of the root to a cup of boiling water to make a tea. You can also make a tonic by boiling a few twigs in a large amount of water and allowing it to cool before drinking. Remove the twigs before you drink it, of course.

You shouldn’t take butcher's broom if you have high blood pressure and if you’re currently taking medication such as blood thinners or blood pressure medication, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before you use it.

Formulas & recipes
Butchers broom root is harvested from an evergreen shrub original to Asia, Europe, and Africa. This shrub is known for its resiliency, as it is able to survive with little to no sunlight as well as water. The root can be used to make tinctures, teas, and infused oils. Butcher's broom root is also available in powder form, making it easy to add to capsules, teas, or herbal formulations. When the herb is used internally, butchers broom root benefits users' circulatory regulation.

It can also be used as an herbal supplement in the form of an extract. Butchers broom extract is just another way to ingest the herb to benefit from its effects. Ingesting butchers broom as a tea or extract is helpful to those who find their extremities, like fingers and toes, getting colder than the rest of their body.

Butchers broom root tea recipe
-Add one tablespoon of butchers broom root to a tea bag
-Pour boiled water over the tea bag
-Let steep for 10 minutes
-Enjoy with honey or another natural sweetener