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In many bleak areas,
the Gorse is a balm to eyes and heart, partly because it is an
evergreen shrub (rare in Britain before the introduction of
many species from abroad), but also because it starts blossoming
early in the year, when there is little else to cheer us up. The
Gorse tends to bloom at its most profuse from March through to
May, but throughout the year it is possible to find individual
flowers on some plants, hence the old saying:
"When Gorse is out of bloom, Kissing's out of season."
Synonyms:
Furze, Whin, Prickly Broom.
 Cultivation:
Propagation is usually done by seeds, only the cultivated
varieties tend to be raised by cuttings. The one requirement of
Gorse (as a pioneer plant) is plenty of light, so it is best to
keep the plant well weeded until it is established. Typical places
were gorse will thrive is on heaths, dry hillsides and light and
sandy soil with a minimal amount of calcium.
There is no reason why we should not use Gorse as an ornamental
garden bush, as it is pretty enough, evergreen and it will provide
a welcome source of early blooms. Create a dense good-looking bush
by pruning back after flowering. If left to itself amongst other
plants, the Gorse will become a very leggy plant reaching for the
light.
Outside its natural growth range in the southern half of Britain
Gorse may be sensitive to frosts, but will usually grow back.
Anyone who has lived in close proximity with Gorse will know that
unmistakable sound of little "plops" on a hot summer
day. These are the exploding Gorse seeds trying to find a place to
grow which is as far as possible from its parent plant. The seeds
land a few metres away. Ants will also help to disperse the seeds.
On clear-cut hill and other waste places, Gorse can be very invasive.
The plant was introduced by settlers on the Northwest coast of the
USA and is considered there as a pest. There is a similar story in
Auatralia, especially in Tasmania and South Victoria. Michael
Viney, an Irish writer, wrote about the plant calling his article:
"The curse of furze, or the glory of gorse?"
However it provides
excellent secure shelter for nesting birds. The sharp spines will
also protect tree seedlings from browsing animals. Thus the
seedlings will grow and eventually take over and then the Gorse
patches change into woodland/forest.
Uses
of Gorse
Fuel: Cut Gorse is an
excellent and hot fuel and in places where it grew in abundance it
was a favourite source of firewood for bread baking. Another
use for its hot burning wood was in Limekilns. Usually
the practice was to cut it down once every 3 years. Since Gorse is
an evergreen plant, the best time to do this is after flowering.
The plant will grow with renewed vigour.
Dead gorse branches have always been highly appreciated by travelers
for the fact that they will often burn even when wet and thus
offer a good chance to get a fire going in damp weather.
Fertiliser: In places
where the Gorse is not burned as fuel, the needle-like spiny
leaves of the lower branches create a thick carpet on the ground
and make excellent topsoil. The ashes can be also used as a valuable
fertiliser.
Animal food: The
young shoots of Gorse are readily eaten by cattle and sheep. In
former days Gorse was often especially planted as a valuable
source of winter feed for stock.
"In some parts of England, it is usual to put the Furze
bushes into a mill to crush the thorns and then to feed horses and
cows with the branches. When finely cut or crushed, sheep will
readily eat it. The bruised shoots form a very nutritious fodder
and when well bruised are eaten with much relish by horses, and
cows are said to give good milk upon this food alone. When
crushed, it is necessary to use it quickly, as the mass soon
ferments. The variety of Furze found in the west of England and in
Ireland, called U. strictus, is the best for this purpose,
its shoots being softer and more succulent. It has terminal
bunches of flowers." (Mrs. Grieve)
Soap source: The
ashes of burned Gorse are rich in alkali, and they were formerly
sometimes used for washing, either in the form of a solution or
lye, or mixed with clay and made into balls, as a substitute for
soap. Another association with washing is that many people used to
like to grow a few Gorse bushes near their homesteads, so they
could lay their washing on the thorny branches without fear of it
blowing away.
Hedges and Protection: Gorse
makes an excellent, impenetrable and stock-proof hedge when it is
kept closely cut. It is liable to hard frost, so such hedges are
best planted in the milder climate of South Britain or sheltered
situations.
Where Gorse grows naturally it makes a good protective nursemaid
crop for larger trees and we can of course copy this pattern by
sowing it to protect seed plantations. Similarly it will also make
an excellent cover for game. Many birds such as Whinchats,
stonechats, Dinnetes and Dartforr warblers also like to make their
nests in a Gorse thicket.
Small bits of the prickly branches have been used to protect peas
and bean seeds from attacks by hungry birds and mice, by adding
them to the drills in which the seeds are sown.
 Perfume source: The
flowers exude a lovely smell, reminiscent of coconut, which fills
the air when the bushes are full of blooms. The monks of Caldy
Island (an isle just off the coast near Tenby in South
Pembrokeshire) make a famous perfume from the flowers.
Dye: The golden flowers
yield an excellent natural yellow dye.
Tea substitute: The
leaf-buds of gorse make a substitute for tea.
Medicinal uses: Mrs.
Grieves rightly says that Gorse has never played an important part
in herbal medicine. As someone who has received a training of many
years in herbal medicine I can confirm this. She sums up
documented uses as follows: "Parkinson tells us that 'some
have used the flowers against the jaundice.' An infusion of the
blossoms used to be given to children to drink in scarlet-fever. Gerard
states: 'the seeds are employed in medicines against the stone and
staying of the laske' (laxness of the bowels). They have some
astringent property, containing tannin. Old writers also tell-us
that 'sodden with honey, it clears the mouth' and that it 'is good
against snake-bite.' It had an old reputation as an insecticide:
'Against fleas, take this same wort, with its seed, sodden;
sprinkle it into the house; it killeth the fleas.' "
The Pharmacological Journal carried articles in 1886 and 1891
about alkaloids found in Gorse, particularly in the seeds. It was
found that one of them "Ulexine" was identical with the
alkaloid "Cytisine" which is found in Broom, a closely
related plant. This alkaloid is thought to be responsible for
action which Broom has on the circulatory system and the heart
(can help to correct arrhythmia and relief cardiac oedema, however
it also tends to raise blood pressure). Unfortunately, neither
Broom nor Gorse is suitable for self-medication. This is partly
due to the varying amounts of active chemicals present in these
plants, as well the serious nature of the diseases involved.
Other Country usage of Gorse:
The prickly branches were used to harrow crops, as a chimney brush
to loosen the creosote and soot, and to hang the washing on so it
could not blow away on exposed sites. A bed of the cut branches
was also useful as a damp proof course to keep haystacks off the
ground. Wood: The
size of the gorse branches is not large enough for many purposes,
but the wood still played a useful role in rural life. Examples
are: roofing outhouses and sheds, making hammer handles, etc.
Traditional knowledge:
The-Tree offers a page where
you can read the entry for Gorse
from "A Modern Herbal" (Mrs. M. Grieve, ed. Mrs.
C.F.Leyel) published in 1931. Obviously things have moved on
since then, yet this book is still often unsurpassed in its scope
and depth of traditional knowledge. The page pops up in a new
window. Close it to return to the Tree Gallery.
You
can click on the pictures below to enlarge them in a new window.
Close the window afterwards to return to this page
Note from webmother to
page visitors:
Many of these pages are still bare bones. Whenever time allows, we
will continue to add information to the Tree Gallery until all the
trees have descriptions of their habitat, characteristics,
cultivation, uses and anything else of interest. Email us if you
are keen to know more about a particular tree and we will do our
best to complete that one next.
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