Gorse
ExplorePlants
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
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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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
Ability
Spiky Defender
Gorse has extremely sharp, tough spines that help it defend against hungry animals and retain precious water.
Ability
Soil Booster
Gorse can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, helping it grow in poor ground and enriching the area for other plants.
Ability
Exploding Seeds
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
- 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
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Everblooming
Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Salt Tolerant
Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Also known as
FurzeWhin
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Gorse?
100-500 cm
How wide does Gorse spread?
100-300 cm
How big are the flowers on Gorse?
1-2 cm
When does Gorse bloom?
Late winter to early summer, with sporadic blooms year-round
Is Gorse edible?
No
Is Gorse toxic?
Mild
What is Gorse's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Gorse pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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