Ulex, commonly known as gorse, furze, or whin, is a genus of flowering plants in the Fabaceae family, consisting of about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs native to western Europe and northwest Africa, primarily found in Iberia.
Gorse is related to brooms and features green stems and small leaves adapted for dry conditions. It is highly thorny, with modified shoots that can reach 1 to 4 centimeters long, replacing leaves as the plant’s main photosynthetic organs. Young plants have trifoliate leaves, but mature ones have reduced scales or spines. Gorse produces yellow flowers, known for their distinctive coconut-like scent, and blooms throughout the year, with common gorse flowering most strongly in spring.
This plant thrives in poor and rocky soils, making it valuable for land reclamation due to its nitrogen-fixing ability. Gorse provides an essential habitat for wildlife, offering dense cover for birds such as Dartford warblers and European stonechats. Its flowers are food sources for certain moth caterpillars, contributing to the ecological value of this plant.
