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Gorse flowers. Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org -
Gorse flowers. Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org -
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Gorse seed pods. Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org -
Gorse. -
Gorse infestation.
Also known as: European gorse
Gorse is a stout, thorny evergreenEvergreen Plants that maintain their leaves all year long. shrub. It grows outward leaving a center of dry, dead vegetation. It poses a significant fire hazard because it is highly flammable and creates a lot of fuelFuel Human-built structures and plant material that can burn during a wildfire..
Description:
| Life Cycle: | Perennial (life cycle lasts more than one year) |
| Early Detection and Rapid Response species: | Yes |
| Height: | Up to 10 feet (3 meters) |
| Leaf Description: | Its leaves have three thin, dark green leaflets. As it matures, it’s leaves are replaced with thorns. |
| Fruit & Flower Description: | Flowers are bright yellow and pea-like. They cluster at the end of its thorny branches. Seed pods are hairy and turn brown as they ripen. Once ripe, the seeds dispersion by popping out of the pod. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 30 years. |
| Bloom Time: | March to May |
Habitat:
- Gorse prefers sunny, open areas with well-drained soil.
- It is commonly found in grasslands, pastures, roadsides, and recently harvested woodlands.
Impact:
- Gorse’s stout, thorny branches create dense stands that impede wildlife movement and outcompete native plants and crops for resources.
- Its thorns contain flammable oils that create a serious wildfire hazard.
What you can do about it:
- If you think you’ve found gorse anywhere in Oregon, please report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
- It is extremely difficult to control due to its thorny vegetation, ability to resprout, and long-lasting seeds.
- Small plants can be dug with a shovel or hand pulled in the fall or spring when the soil is damp. Be sure to remove as much of the roots as possible to prevent plants for regrowing.
- Repeated cutting or mowing before plants have flowered will help prevent new plants from starting.
- Weed wrenches can assist with removing gorse. If you are in Washington County, we lend these tools for free from our tool library.
Look-alikes:
Gorse is sometimes confused with common species because of their similar flowers and shrubby stature. Unlike gorse, broom species do not have thorny stems.
Noxious Weed Listing:
| State of Oregon: | Class B |
| State of Washington: | Class B |
More Resources:
Download the Gorse Best Management Practices factsheet