Ulex gallii
western gorse
Overview
Ulex gallii is a dense, spiny, evergreen shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae), growing 1–6.5 feet (0.3–2 m) tall and forming low, rounded bushes. Mature plants bear no true leaves; the photosynthetic surface is the green stems and the rigid, furrowed spines, which are 0.4–1 inch (1–2.5 cm) long and shorter and less rigid than those of common gorse (Ulex europaeus). The yellow, coconut-scented pea flowers are 0.4–0.5 inch (10–13 mm) long and open mainly from July to November, later than the spring-flowering U. europaeus, so the two can be told apart by season where they grow together. Seed pods are hairy, about 0.4 inch (1 cm) long, and split open in warm weather to scatter seed. The shrub grows on acid, free-draining soils of heaths, moors, coastal cliffs, and rough grassland, mostly in mild, oceanic western districts. It regenerates from the base after fire and cutting but is killed by hard, prolonged frost and does not persist on limy or waterlogged ground.
Native Range
Native to the Atlantic fringe of western Europe, from Britain and Ireland south through western France to northern Spain and Portugal. It is most abundant in mild, high-rainfall coastal and upland districts.Suggested Uses
Ulex gallii is planted on banks, coastal slopes, and poor acid soils for erosion control, shelter, and wildlife cover, and is used in heathland restoration. Its dense spines make it a stock-proof informal hedge in exposed western gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 6'6"
Width/Spread2' - 5'
Bloom Information
Flowers open mainly from July to November, with a peak in late summer and early autumn. The yellow, coconut-scented pea flowers are clustered along the spiny stems and are pollinated by bees. Ripe pods split with an audible crack on hot days, throwing seed up to several feet from the parent plant.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green stems and spinesGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ulex gallii grows in full sun on poor, acid, sharply drained sandy or gravelly soils and fixes its own nitrogen, so it needs no feeding. It withstands wind, salt spray, and drought once established but is damaged by hard frost and fails on chalky or wet soils. Plants are slow to re-establish after transplanting because of a deep root system, so young container-grown stock settles in most reliably. Watering is needed only during the first season; after that no further irrigation is required. Cutting or burning every few years keeps stands dense and young, as old bushes grow leggy and bare at the base.Pruning
Cutting hard in late winter or early spring every two to three years keeps bushes compact, as Ulex gallii regrows from the base after severe cutting. Plants left unpruned become open and woody at the centre by about ten years. Trimming after the main autumn flush avoids removing developing flower buds.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winterearly spring