Gorse

Do you want to plant a Gorse? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Gorse, and on pruning and caring for your Gorse.
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General characteristics of a Gorse

The Gasthorn (Ulex europaeus) is a native shrub with a yellow inflorescence and thorns. Good plant for bees, as well as birds to nest in and provides good shelter for small animals.

Characteristics


Caring for and pruning your Gorse

Common gorse requires little maintenance once established. Water the plant regularly, especially during dry periods, until it is firmly rooted. Avoid overwatering, however, as this can suffocate the plant.

Where does a Gorse grow

Common gorse is a frost-sensitive species of weakly acidic, nutrient-poor, sandy soils.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Shrub

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 0 Up to 1 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years Up to year
Maximum Age Up to year
Required Space 1 Up to 2m2
Growth Rate trees.medium

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter February tot March
Leaf Shapes Awl-shaped
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels No
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Spread out
Bud Shape
Pointed

Other

Root
Deeply rooted
Bloom
Has flowers
Has fruits
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Harvest/recognition in winter

Gorse is similar to gorse. The main difference between the two is that gorse does not have thorns and gorse does. Creeping gorse and German gorse also have thorns, but are generally much lower, much less common and do have normal leaves.

Light requirement of the Gorse

The Gorse thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Gorse

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Gorse to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Gorse

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Gorse in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Gorse

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Gorse like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 50
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hoverflies
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    Holly Blue
    Green Hairstreak
    Silver-studded Blue
    Mazarine Blue
    Short-tailed Blue

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant? 10
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer January Up to June

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Goat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Horse
    Sheep
    Pig
    Badgers
    Squirrel
    Ferret
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Human
    Mouse
    Roe deer
    Foxes
    Wild boar
    Beavers

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). Yes
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Gorse looks like

    Branch of the gorse
    Gorse; a mature shrub
    Gorse in winter

    This is what a Gorse in bloom looks like

    Gorse in bloom