Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Ulex europaeus (Common gorse)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
2.5m
Max height
Max height
2.5m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Ulex europaeus
Other names
Common gorse, Whin, Gorse, Irish gorse, Thorn broom, European furze, French furze, Furze, Honey bottles, Hoth, Ulex armoricanus, Ulex compositus, Ulex europaea, Ulex floridus, Ulex opistholepis
Genus
Ulex Ulex
Species
U. europaeus - U. europaeus is a dense, bushy evergreen shrub with spiny stems. It has small, dark-green leaves and from winter to spring, bears scented, yellow, pea-like flowers, followed by black seed pods.
Ulex europaeus is: Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are scented
Habit
Bushy, Dense
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Yellow in Spring; Yellow in Winter
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 10 every 2-3 years.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Ulex europaeus (Common gorse) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 2.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildlife, Wind-breaker
Cultivation
Plant in poor, well-drained soil in full sun. Dislikes chalk. Suitable for hedging, particularly for security, due to its spines.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Ulex europaeus
Other names
Common gorse, Whin, Gorse, Irish gorse, Thorn broom, European furze, French furze, Furze, Honey bottles, Hoth, Ulex armoricanus, Ulex compositus, Ulex europaea, Ulex floridus, Ulex opistholepis
Genus
Ulex Ulex
Species
U. europaeus - U. europaeus is a dense, bushy evergreen shrub with spiny stems. It has small, dark-green leaves and from winter to spring, bears scented, yellow, pea-like flowers, followed by black seed pods.
Native to
Central Europe, Western Europe
Foliage
Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are scented
Habit
Bushy, Dense
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow in Spring; Yellow in Winter
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 10 every 2-3 years.
Propagation methods
Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Ulex europaeus (Common gorse) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 2.5m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildlife, Wind-breaker
Cultivation
Plant in poor, well-drained soil in full sun. Dislikes chalk. Suitable for hedging, particularly for security, due to its spines.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Urquhart & Hunt’s Rewilding Britain garden at Chelsea Flower Show reveals the key role that beavers play as ecosystem engineers in landscape restoration. Landscape designers Urquhart… read more
Sarah Eberle’s Psalm 23 Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is set to spearhead a campaign to see the creation of community gardens around the country as we emerge from the pandemic. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Ulex europaeus
There are 3 active discussions about Ulex europaeus (Common gorse)
View all discussions