trefle.io · Taken Apr 14, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Fabaceae
European gorse
Ulex europaeus
Also known as Whin, Common gorse, Furze, Genista europaea
Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Shrub · Evergreen · Spiny · Yellow Flowers · Coastal · Wildlife Habitat · Nitrogen-Fixing · Heathland · Invasive Potential · Drought Tolerant
European gorse is a tough, spiny, evergreen shrub that produces a vivid display of golden-yellow flowers and is extremely well-suited to poor, sandy, or acidic soils in full sun. Once established it needs almost no supplemental watering and is very low maintenance, though it can spread aggressively in some climates and should be managed accordingly. Cut back lightly after flowering to keep growth tidy, and be aware it is considered invasive in several regions outside its native range.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 7 hours
- Watering
- Minimal — allow soil to dry fully between waterings; very drought-adaptable once established · Rainfall is usually sufficient; water every 14-21 days only during extreme drought
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5–5.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 60 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Algeria, Antipodean Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina South, Ascension, Austria, Azores, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Chatham Is., Colombia, Corse, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
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