Gorse
Ulex europaeus
Description
An evergreen, leguminous shrub with many stiff, stout, and spiny branches. Seedlings are compact and bear three leaves and thin expanded leaflets typical of legumes. Mature plant leaves are pointed, slender and stiff, with spines on the axils. Young branches are dark-green, turning brown as they mature. Clusters of shiny, yellow, pea-like flowers grow near the end of the spine-tipped branches. Individual plants can range from 1 to 9 feet tall, and often grow in dense thickets, sometimes 30 feet in diameter. Gorse somewhat resembles the Scotch broom, but can easily be distinguished by its prickly nature. Also, brooms have small, simple leaves.Habitat
Infertile or disturbed sites, sand dunes, gravel bars, fence rows, overgrazed pastures, logged areas, or burned-over lands; also riparian zones, grasslands, and open forestsDistribution
Northern California coastline, western Oregon, western Washington, southern Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands of British ColumbiaImpacts
Crowds native plant species, impacts forest production, inhabits parklands and pastures, and renders infested land unusable. High levels of natural oils in the spines make the plant very flammable and, thus, a fire hazard.Dispersal Methods
Seeds travel in mud on animal and human feet, vehicles, ants, and birds. It can also be disperesed along waterways, if the plant grows riverside.Prevention
Look for gorse in disturbed areas with poor, infertile soils, such as vacant lots, roadsides, and fencerows for flowering and pre-flowering from February to March. Isolated small populations can be dug up and should be monitored for several years. Clean off vehicles, shoes, and animals that have been in infested areas.Listings
ODA's B ListFactsheets
King County Noxious Weed Control Program Fact Sheet
Photos
Distribution Map
Distribution in Washington
Other Links
Best Management Practices from the King County Weed Control Program
Element Stewardship Abstract from The Nature Conservancy's Global Invasive Species Initiative