Latin Name: Ulex europaeus

Flower: Bright yellow, pea-like flowers that bloom nearly year-round, but peak in late winter to early spring.

Leaves: Small, spine-like leaves that are evergreen and tough.

Stems: Woody, spiny, and branching, forming a dense, tangled shrub up to 3 meters tall.

Growing Environment: Prefers dry, well-drained soils in fields, forest cutblocks, and disturbed areas.

Growth Habit: An evergreen shrub that forms dense, impenetrable thickets. It spreads by seed, often forming large, sprawling patches in open areas. In situ, gorse appears as a dense, thorny mass of bright yellow flowers and dark green spiny foliage, dominating landscapes where it has established.