Gorse

Ulex europaeus

A perennial, spiny, evergreen shrub with 3 thin leaflets with terminal thorn. Stiff and angular branches, yellow pea-like flowers.

Life Forms	Shrub
Habitats	Abandoned fields Grasslands Pastures Roadsides
ODA Listing	B
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Moist Rocky or gravelly soil Sandy soil
Suggested Actions	Report to Oregon Invasives Hotline Use BMPs to control on private property
Shade Preference	Full sun Part shade
Mature Height	10-15' tall, up to 30' in diameter
Distribution	Mainly found in Oregon along the coast in Coos, Curry, and Lane Counties. Also scattered throughout western Oregon.
Control	Hand pull small infestations, removing entire plant; establishment of competitive pasture/forest tree/crops can resist invasions; goats can control seedlings and chickens eat forst seeds, destroying them as they are digested.
Reproduction and Spread	Reproduces by seed and vegetatively. Seeds viable for 30 years.
Introduced	Introduced from Europe in 1890s as an ornamental plant.
Look Alikes	Scotch broom, other brooms
Impact	Grows rapidly, crowding out native plants, invading wildllife habitats, and impacting forest production.Highly flammable - extreme fire hazard.
More Info	https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/gorse https://www.oregon.gov/oda/shared/Documents/Publications/Weeds/GorseProfile.pdf