Gorse: Plant profile
Common names
Gorse, Common Gorse, European Gorse, Gorst, Prickly Broom, Furze, Whin, Aiteann Gallda
Botanical name
Ulex europaeus
Plant family
Fabaceae (Pea), Subfamily: Faboideae
Distribution
Native to parts of western Europe and northwest Africa. Found widespread in Britain and Ireland.
Where to find Gorse
Coastal, heathlands, wasteland and forest edges.
When to find Gorse
The plants blooms all year round, though more readily in spring and early summer.
How to identify Gorse
Gorse is a dense perennial shrub covered in dark-green needles. The flowers are yellow, similar to those of Peas and might be present in the bush all year round. The seed pods are dark purple to blackish-brown and have white hairs covering them. These pods explode at some point, to disperse the seeds.
Gorse lookalikes
The genus Ulex comprises about 20 species, but only 3 can be found in the UK and Ireland: Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Western Gorse (Ulex gallii) and Dwarf Gorse (Ulex minor). All of them have edible flowers.
Broom (Cytisus scoparius) flowers are quite similar but the plant lack the dense spines of Gorse.
All about Gorse
Gorse is one of the most common shrubs growing in the British Isles, someitmes creating impenetrable thickets.
There is an old saying “when Gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of fashion”, as it seems the plant is thought to be always in bloom. No matter whether it is a hot summer or a frozen winter, there is always a bush in bloom.
Medicinal properties of Gorse
Gorse has not been much used in herbal medicine, though it’s included in the Bach flower remedies
Culinary uses and recipes with Gorse
The bright yellow blossoms of gorse are one of the few flowers available in the winter menu.They have a very mild coconut and almond aroma but can taste a bit bitter.
The flower buds can be pickled in vinegar and used like capers
The flowers can be infused in liqueurs, only for a very short period of time, in order to avoid extreme bitterness. The flowers are ideal for use in baking and make good dish presentaton.
Safe foraging of Gorse
Do not over eat the flowers, as the plant may contain slightly toxic alkaloids.
The long pods and dark seeds are not edible, either raw or cooked. Do not consume.
Ecological importance of Gorse
Gorse provides a year-round food source for insect pollinators.
The plant is used as a pioneer species for establishing new woodland.
13 thoughts on “Gorse”
At the beginning you say we can eat the flowers and pickle the pods then in the next breath they’re inedible dangerous alkaloids! Like which is it? The confusion and contradictions make learning this skill dangerous.
Hi Serina,
I am not sure where you read that. In the article, I suggest pickling flower buds, not the pods. I also advice not to eat too much flowers, as they contain a slight amount of alkaloids.
An old stable man once told me that gorse is the cure for any ailing horse. Think he was right as gorse is well chewed around most horse paddocks.
Hey Alvaro, just thought I’d share that I’ve been reading about a well in north Wales today of which the book says “a local woman used to create a medicine using water from the well, white heather honey and gorse flowers, which was considered particularly effective for the treatment of depression.”
Hi Neil, thanks for sharing! What’s the name of the book?
For many years I was under the impression horse or also known as furze flowers were good for winter depression. Yellow colour of joy!
Typo – Gorse
Why do you say not to eat the gorse seeds? The furry, woody pods I can understand, but I wonder whether a handful of gorse seeds sprinkled over a salad might work. They don’t have an unpleasant taste eaten alone.
Hello Bjorny,
There are hardly any records about edibility of gorse seeds on the internet or books.
The few references indicate that seeds may be toxic so I prefer to be on the safe side. But I am open to challenge.
Is that something you have tried once? Have you eaten them frequently? Have you seen someone else do it? Or any reference that I can see?
I am really interested to know. Thanks.
Alvaro
So you are getting all your information from the internet?! Not experiences. Ffs
Hi Serina,
Not sure where you got that from. Also, not willing to try something potentially dangerous for a first hand experience. Hope you don’t do it either!
I was always told, by my grandfather, born 1874, that ” I’ll pay of my debts when the gorse fails to bloom”. He never had a debt.