Common Gorse

Ulex europaeus

Common & widespread around the country.

The solitary flowers are yellow, 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) long, with the pea-flower structure typical of the Fabaceae; they are produced throughout the year, but mainly over a long period in spring.

They are coconut-scented.

The fruit is a legume (pod) 2 cm (3⁄4 in) long, dark purplish-brown, partly enclosed by the pale brown remnants of the flower; the pod contains 2–3 small blackish, shiny, hard seeds, which are ejected when the pod splits open in hot weather.

Seeds remain viable for 30 years.

Flowers from April-June.