Gorse

Ulex L.

Gorse is a spiky bush with beautiful yellow flowers. It’s tough and can grow in rocky places!

Habitat: Coastal areas and hills

Appearance

The Gorse is a very spiky evergreen shrub, often forming dense thickets. It has bright, pea-like yellow flowers that stand out against its dark green, needle-like leaves. Its formidable spines make it look different from most other flowering bushes.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusUlex

Gorse

Interesting facts

Ancient people sometimes burned Gorse to heat their bread ovens.

Gorse can bloom for months, even through the cold winter snow.

Its bright yellow flowers often smell sweetly of coconut or vanilla!

This tough plant can live for over 30 years in harsh conditions!

Special abilities

Gorse has extremely sharp, tough spines that help it defend against hungry animals and retain precious water.

Gorse can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, helping it grow in poor ground and enriching the area for other plants.

Gorse seed pods can burst open with a loud 'pop' on hot days, flinging seeds far away to spread the plant.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-500 cm
Spread: 100-300 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Late winter to early summer, with sporadic blooms year-round
Is Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Pollinates its bright yellow flowers.

eaten by

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Browses on young shoots and bark.

shelters

Dunnock

Prunella modularis

Nests and hides in its dense, spiky branches.

symbiotic with

Rhizobium bacterium

Rhizobium leguminosarum

Helps Gorse grow by adding nitrogen to soil.

Traits

Shrub

These amazing plants are like nature's bushy sculptures, having woody stems that branch out from the ground to create a lovely, full shape.

Everblooming

Discover plants that seem to bloom non-stop, gracing your garden with colorful flowers throughout an extended season. They're always ready to show off!

Fragrant Flower

Discover flowers that release delightful scents into the air, enchanting our senses and attracting helpful insects. Take a moment to enjoy their sweet perfume!

Salt Tolerant

These resilient plants are tough cookies that can thrive even when there's salt in the soil or air, often found happily living near the ocean.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.