Gorse Hedge (Ulex europaeus)

Gorse Hedge Plants Description

Gorse Hedge Plants (Ulex europaeus) are a robust and hardy choice for hedging, known for their dense, spiny structure and striking yellow flowers. Native to the UK, Gorse is ideal for creating secure, wildlife-friendly boundaries that thrive in poor soils and exposed locations.

Gorse has a moderate to fast growth rate, typically growing 20-40cm (8-16 inches) per year. It can reach heights of 2-3 metres (6-10 feet), making it well-suited for medium to tall hedges.

Flowers: One of the standout features of Gorse is its bright yellow, pea-like flowers, which bloom for much of the year, often from early spring through late autumn. The flowers are fragrant, with a subtle coconut-like scent, and provide an important source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.

Spines: Gorse is densely covered in sharp, needle-like spines, making it an excellent choice for creating a defensive hedge that deters intruders and provides safe nesting spots for birds.

Foliage: The evergreen foliage consists of small, thorny shoots that remain green throughout the year, ensuring year-round interest and structure.

Shape: Gorse forms a dense, bushy shape naturally, requiring minimal pruning to maintain, although it can be trimmed back after flowering to control its size.

Pruning Advice

Tools Needed: Use sharp secateurs for smaller branches and loppers for thicker stems. Wearing protective gloves is essential, as gorse is extremely spiny.

Remove Dead or Damaged Wood: Start by cutting away any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. This helps keep the plant healthy and encourages fresh growth.

Trim for Shape: Lightly trim the tips of the branches to maintain the shape of the gorse. Focus on cutting back to a healthy bud or side shoot to promote bushier growth.

Avoid Cutting into Old Wood: Gorse does not regenerate well from old, woody stems. When pruning, avoid cutting into the old wood as this can prevent the plant from regrowing. Focus on pruning newer, green growth to keep the plant manageable.

Thinning: If the gorse is too dense, you can thin out some of the interior branches to improve airflow and light penetration, which reduces the risk of disease.

Hard Pruning:

Gorse can tolerate light pruning regularly but does not respond well to severe cutting back into old wood. If a gorse bush becomes too large or leggy, prune it gradually over a few seasons rather than cutting it back hard all at once.

Maintenance:

Regular pruning after flowering will keep your gorse hedge healthy, manageable, and flowering abundantly each year.

Further Information

Gorse thrives in well-drained, poor soils and is highly tolerant of drought, coastal winds, and exposed sites, making it a great choice for coastal or rural settings. It prefers full sun and will struggle in heavy, waterlogged soils or full shade.

Gorse Hedge Plants are perfect for creating an impenetrable, low-maintenance boundary that also supports wildlife. With their striking yellow blooms and tough, spiny structure, Gorse hedges are a practical and attractive addition to a variety of landscapes, especially in challenging conditions.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.