Ulex europaeus (gorse)

Ulex europaeus

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Ulex europaeus (gorse) is a woody leguminous shrub (family Fabaceae). In California Ulex europaeus can be found in coastal counties and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. It invades infertile or disturbed sites, sand dunes, gravel bars, fence rows, overgrazed pastures, logged areas, and burned-over areas. Besides becoming a significant fire hazard, it can successfully out compete native plants in part because of its association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which facilitate its colonization of nitrogen-poor soils.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: High

Cal-IPC Resources on Ulex europaeus

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution.
• Species account from Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands - Includes biology and management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Ulex europaeus.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Ulex europaeus.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• (1994). Exotic pest plants of greatest ecological concern in California September 1994. CalEPPC News. 2: 10.
• (2001). International broom initiative: A comprehensive broom and gorse biological control effort. CalEPPC News. 9: 3-6.
• (2007). Mendocino community considers gorse treatment. Cal-IPC News. 14: 12.
• DiTomaso, J. (1998). Results of the CalEPPC questionnaire at Symposium '98 in Ontario. CalEPPC News. 6: 4.
• Griffith, Q. (1995). Marin supervisors establish policy against non-natives. CalEPPC News. 3: 11.
• Madison, J. (1996). Highways as corridors of dispersal. CalEPPC News. 4: 9.
• Pitcairn, M. (2000). All weeds that have approved biological control agents, accidental introductions and others. CalEPPC News. 8.
• Steinmaus, S. (2002). Predicting plant invasion with modeling. CalEPPC News. 10: 5-7,9.
• Young, S. L. (2002). Exploring alternative methods for vegetation control and maintenance along roadsides. CalEPPC News. 10: 5-7.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Archbald, G. (1998). Mechanical control methods: beyond weed bashing. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '98. Ontario, CA.
• Corbin, J. D. and C. M. D’Antonio (2003). Too much of a good thing: Restoration of native biodiversity following soil nitrogen enrichment. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2003. Kings Beach, CA.
• DiTomaso, J. M. (1997). Risk analysis of various weed control methods. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• Heath, M., K. Moore, et al. (2005). Trees and shrubs discussion group. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Pitcairn, M. (1993). Introduction and distribution of biological control agents against exotic weeds in California. California Exotic Pest Plant Symposium '93. Westlake Village, CA.
• Steinmaus, S. (2002). Using climatic models to predict the potential range of invasive plants. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2002. Sacramento, CA.

Other Resources on Ulex europaeus

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Element Stewardship Abstract - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• Encycloweedia - Plants rated as noxious weeds by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

Printer-friendly version