The Gorse hedge, also known by its Latin name of Ulex europaeus, is a pleasant native plant that showcases a long, prickly nature, and lovely fragrant, yellow flowers.
About Gorse hedging
There is many reasons to buy the Gorse hedge. It is a native, evergreen plant, that‰ۡó»s intruder deterrent due to it being very prickly, and has an exceedingly long flowering season from early Spring until the middle of Summer. The flowers have pea-like features, due to the species having originated from the legume family. They have a yellow colour, are very fragrant, and welcome the bees due to providing a long season of nectar. The Gorse is perfect for creating the ideal aromatic garden.
The Ulex europaeus is not a past-growing plant, sitting at a growth rate of 15-30cm per year. That being said, however, it can grow up to a height of 2.5m- and this is recommended if you are looking for something intruder proof.
Key Features
The Gorse is also very popular for its ability to adapt to many soils and conditions. It can tolerate exposed coastal and dry sites, as well as sandy or rocky soils. However, we do recommend planting in a well-drained soil with the nitrogen-fixing capacity, to get the very best out of your Gorse.
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Growth height: Average (20-40cm per year)
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Ideal height: 2.5m+ Tall
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Soil Type: Normal
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Exposure: Coastal, Exposed, Inland
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Aspect: Semi-shade, Sun
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Evergreen foliage? Yes
Pruning & Care
You will need to prune your Gorse hedge straight after flowering season (where flowering is on last year‰ۡó»s growth), or in early-mid spring if the flowering has taken place on current year‰ۡó»s growth.
How To Plant Gorse
When should I plant Gorse hedging?
The best time to plant Gorse plants is throughout spring or autumn, when the weather is a little cooler and damper. It is possible to plant pot grown plants at any time of year, however, as long as the ground is not frozen and they're provided with enough water.
How far apart do you plant Gorse plants?
It's possible to plant Gorse plants around 50cm apart, at 2 plants per metre, but we recommend at least 3 per metre (planting around 30cm apart), when buying plants as small as 20/40cm tall.̴Ì?
How to plant̴Ì?Gorse:
Gorse hedging is rather simple to plant. All you need to do is begin by preparing the site, by removing any weeds/rocks, and digging up a hole that is double the width of the root ball, but the same depth. Then place your Gorse into the middle of the hole and backfill with the excess soil. Simply finish off by pressing down the soil, gently but firmly, to secure the plant.
Once planted, give it a good watering, and continue to water on a regular basis for the first year after planting - after the first year, however, Gorse will pretty much do well on its own as it's rather tolerant to drought.̴Ì?