The composition and content of alkaloids in different subspecies of Chamaecytisus proliferus from diverse locations in the Canary Islands, was studied using thin-layer chromatography and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results obtained showed that sparteine was the main alkaloid in all samples studied. The sparteine content ranged from 0.06% in the ssp proliferus var. palmensis to 0.77% in the ssp meridionalis. Therefore, by breeding, the subspecies with the lower alkaloid content, could produce plants more suitable for use as animal food, whilst those with a high alkaloid content could be used as a natural source of sparteine.