Pollinator plant

Gorse

Ulex europaeus

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Common names

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

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • gorse — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gaspeldoorn — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Ajonc d'Europe — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • common gorse — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Europäischer Stechginster — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gewöhnlicher Stechginster — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Stechginster — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • European Gorse — results[0].names[29]; 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.
  • Espinillo amarillo — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Retamo espinoso — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Grand Ajonc — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • ginestrone — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo-arnal — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
[2] 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.
  • Gaspeldoorn — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Ajonc d'Europe — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • common gorse — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Europäischer Stechginster — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Gewöhnlicher Stechginster — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Stechginster — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • European Gorse — results[0].names[29]; 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.
  • Espinillo amarillo — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Retamo espinoso — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Grand Ajonc — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • ginestrone — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Tojo-arnal — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • hlodáš evropský — results[0].names[8]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Gaspeldoring — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • جولق الشائع — results[0].names[33]; 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.
  • Ote zuria — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
  • Улекс європейський — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 51751; Ulex europaeus.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Ulex europaeus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Fabaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Medium
Dimensions
1.50 m high × 1.50 m wide
Growth rate
Fast
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-9
Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Pioneer plant, Hedge, Dye, Fragrant
Edibility
1 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

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

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ulex europaeus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2722925; ID 7DG7P; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2722925; ID 7DG7P; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.