Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

We could not find any material specifically naming this particular plant as an invasive, although you are correct, it is not in our Native Plant Database because it is native to the Canary Islands. This article from the Master Gardeners of the Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension gives you some more specific information on Genista racemosa.

There is another species of this plant, Genista monspessulana, that is considered invasive in California, as discussed in this article from the California Invasive Plant Council.

Generally speaking, you seem to have purchased a drought-resistant, fairly sturdy, evergreen plant. However, we will say again, always make two trips to the nursery-the first one to select some plants you might be interested in, and write down the names on the tags. You go home, research (as you obviously did) on our Native Plant Database and then, not finding it there, search the Internet, as we just did. There are so many good plants available out there, we don't recommend buying anything "blind." If you are truly concerned about this plant, we recommend you take it out, and return it to the nursery where you purchased it, pointing out that it is not only non-native, but possibly invasive. The best way to control an invasive is to not plant it.

Because you are in Leander, let us invite you to the Lady Bird Johnson Spring Plant Sale. We will be selling plants native to Central Texas, and we don't sell invasive or non-native plants of any kind.