Plant Details

Ulex europaeus

Gorse

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Common names

41 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Gaspeldoorn[1]
French
  • Ajonc d'Europe[1]
  • Grand Ajonc[1]
Afrikaans
  • Gaspeldoring[1]
Arabic
  • جولق الشائع[1]
Asturian
Basque
Catalan
  • Gatosa europea[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • hlodáš evropský[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik astelhernes[1]
Finnish
  • euroopanpiikkiherne[1]
Galician
  • Toxo arnal[1]
German
  • Europäischer Stechginster[1]
  • Gewöhnlicher Stechginster[1]
  • Stechginster[1]
Irish
  • Aiteann gallda[1]
Italian
  • ginestrone[1]
Japanese
  • ハリエニシダ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Europinis dygliakrūmis[1]
Mapudungun
Norwegian
Polish
  • Kolcolist zachodni[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Улекс европейский[1]
Slovak
  • útesovec európsky[1]
Spanish
  • Espinillo amarillo[1]
  • Retamo espinoso[1]
  • Tojo[1]
Swedish
  • ärttörne[1]
Ukrainian
  • Улекс європейський[1]
Welsh
  • Eithinen Ffrengig[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ulex europaeus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • gorse — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • common gorse — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • ginestrone — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Ajonc d'Europe — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Grand Ajonc — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Stechginster — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gaspeldoorn — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • hlodáš evropský — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Retamo espinoso — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tornblad — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gatosa europea — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • cotolha — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Toxo arnal — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • gulltorn — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • euroopanpiikkiherne — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Улекс европейский — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • árguma — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • ハリエニシダ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • harilik astelhernes — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Kolcolist zachodni — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • ärttörne — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Aiteann gallda — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • chacay — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • 荊豆 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • 荆豆 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo-arnal — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • European Gorse — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gaspeldoring — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • furze — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Whin — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • جولق الشائع — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Espinillo amarillo — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Europinis dygliakrūmis — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Eithinen Ffrengig — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • útesovec európsky — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gewöhnlicher Stechginster — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Europäischer Stechginster — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Ote zuria — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Улекс європейський — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.

General information

Scientific name: Ulex europaeus
Accepted name (Kew): Ulex europaeus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ulex (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Gorse
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 1.50 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Pioneer species, Hedge, Dye, Fragrant

Description

The flower buds are preserved in vinegar and then used as capers in salads. Additionally, tea can be made from the young shoots.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/04
Harvest ends: 31/05

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 174457; name ID 2446624; Ulex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 173642; name ID 2446722; Ulex europaeus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ulex europaeus

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2722925, ID 7DG7P: Ulex europaeus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .