Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, Aiteann gallda
Photographs: Balingeary, Co. Cork

Gorse / Furze / Whin
Ulex europaeus
Aiteann gallda
Family: Fabaceae

Flowering time: All year, peak flowering April. Evergreen shrub. Native.

Two-lipped yellow flowers, often smelling strongly of coconut. The stems and thorns are bluish-green. Very spiny, the spines deeply furrowed. Young plants have leaves with three leaflets. Height: To 2m

Prefers acidic soils on grasslands, heaths and wood edges. Widespread, but not on high mountains or very wet ground.

Similar: Western/Autumn Gorse, U. gallii. Flowers July-September. Height to 1.2m.

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, Aiteann gallda

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, Aiteann gallda
Gorse, Ulex europaeus, Aiteann gallda

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