Gorse
Ulex europaeus
Also called Common gorse, Furze and Whin
Garden plant · ShrubsThe flowers smell of coconut and there are some out in every month of the year — which is where the old saying about kissing being out of fashion comes from. Poor soil, or it goes leggy.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 10 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, in poor sandy soil
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 2 m tall · 2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Western Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.