Gorse

Aiteann Ghallda
Latin name: Ulex europaeus

Gorse is a very common shrub that is familiar to most people in Ireland. It is a spiny, prickly evergreen that thrives in dry, acid soils. It can be found in rough grassy areas, hedgerows, along walls, and many fields in Ireland have gorse growing in them.

The shrub has golden yellow, pea-like flowers that create a splash of colour in along hedgerows. These flowers are most dense and plentiful in spring, though gorse usually bears some flowers all year round. They also give off a very distinctive smell of coconut.

Gorse bush
Copyright Environmental Protection Agency.

On a hot summer’s day when you’re out exploring, listen carefully if you pass any gorse bushes. If the flower pods are ripe, they explode and make a loud pop!

Young gorse shrubs produce narrow, oval leaves that develop into prickly spines as the shrub grows. The dense, thorny nature of the gorse provides excellent protection for birds.

A smaller variety of the gorse shrub is the dwarf or Irish gorse. It is very similar to the common gorse, although this variety flowers from July to September. Its long spines are very smooth to touch.

Gorse was once extremely important to people living in the Irish countryside. It was often used for thatching roofs and provided excellent fuel for cooking. Gorse is very resilient against fire, and burnt stubs can sprout new shoots from the roots. Its dense, prickly bushes also made it a particularly useful hedgerow shrub.