General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 6a -23.3 °C (-10 °F) to -20.6 °C (-5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 6-16 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: 3/4 inch long purplish-brown pod containing 2-3 small shiny, hard black seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Groundcover
Dynamic Accumulator: Nitrogen fixer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Beetles
Flies
Bees
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Gorse
  • Furze
  • Whin
  • Honey Bottles
  • Hoth

Photo Gallery

Date: c. 1800-05
illustration by P. J. Redouté from Duhamel's 'Traité des arbres
Location: Scotland, UK
Date: 2014-05-02
Location: Bordeaux, France
Date: 2017-03-13
Location: Twickel
Date: 2023-03-22
Location: Paul da Serra - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-13
Location: Paul da Serra - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-13
Location: Twickel
Date: 2023-03-18
Location: Bordeaux, France
Date: 2017-03-13
Location: Pebble Island, Falkland Islands
Date: 2019-12-14
Location: Paul da Serra - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-13
Location: Paul da Serra - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-13
Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Date: 2023-05-11
Location: Scotland, UK
Date: 2014-05-02
Location: Grays Harbor State Park, Washington
Date: 2014-11-30
Location: Grays Harbor State Park, Washington
Date: 2014-11-30
Comments:
  • Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Mar 26, 2018 12:13 PM concerning plant:
    Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Often confused with Scotch broom (another non-native invasive), gorse has spiny thorns on its stems, and blooms earlier than Scotch broom, usually Feb-Apr. Out-competes natives, shades tree seedlings, and is a fire hazard due to its volatile oils. Pull or dig out plants.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Feb 12, 2012 12:29 PM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get nectar and yellow pollen from this plant.
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AndreA33 On March 1, 2017 Bloomed
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