Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin Name

Ulex gallii 

Family

Fabaceae

Flowering Season

July to October

English distribution

It is found mainly in the Southwest, the Northwest and

parts of the West Midlands and East Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for Western Gorse

Habitat

It grows on heaths, waste ground, sea-cliffs and rough

grassland on acid, infertile soils.

Description

Western Gorse is a native, nitrogen-fixing, spiny shrub,

growing up to 1m.

It resembles a smaller version of Gorse (Ulex europeaeus).

The flowers are yellow and, at up to 12mm, are bigger

than in Dwarf Gorse.

The stems are mainly erect and are densely spinous.

Spines are up to 1.5cm.