Gorse Hedging Plant (Ulex Europaeus)

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a spiny, evergreen hedge plant valued for its long flowering season and coconut scented, egg yolk yellow blossom, which appears mainly between January and June. Tolerant of exposed and arid coastal conditions, Gorse grows well in low, sandy or rocky soils, provided the ground is well drained, and suits acid soils best while also withstanding alkaline conditions. Growing at a rate of around 20 to 40cm a year, Gorse reaches up to 2.5 metres in height, and its sharp spines make it especially well suited to intruder proof hedging. Historically used as a windbreak and as fodder for livestock, Gorse remains a hardy, practical hedging plant for windy, exposed sites.

Dense and thorny in habit, Gorse offers excellent cover for nesting birds and other wildlife, while its long flowering period provides a valuable nectar source for pollinators.

Well suited to poor, infertile ground, Gorse is a low maintenance hedge plant that thrives on high, exposed ground where little else will establish.