It is found in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria[1] and Turkey, and it has been introduced to New Zealand.

From March to June it produces bright yellow flowers which are borne singly or in small clusters.

Al-Tamimi, the physician (10th century), describing the process, writes that in Palestine it was commonly practiced to collect the yellow florets of the spiny broom (Arabic: القندول), spread them upon thickly woven sackcloth which laid out in the hot sun, pour over them hulled sesame seeds and cover them with linen sheets, while leaving them in this condition until the moisture in the florets has evaporated.

The dried florets were then collected and pressed with the sesame seeds in order to produce a fragrant oil.

The oil was formerly stored in glassware vessels, with just enough space left at the top to be sealed with the florets of the spiny broom.