Taxon:  Ulex europaeus L.



Summary
Genus:
Ulex
Family:
Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Genisteae
Nomen number:
40812
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 2:741.  1753
Verified:
02/12/1987 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
10 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
  2. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  3. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
  6. Christina, M. et al. 2019. Climatic niche shift of an invasive shrub (Ulex europaeus): a global scale comparison in native and introduced regions. J. Pl. Ecol. DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtz041.
  7. Clements, D. R. et al. 2001. The biology of Canadian weeds. 112. Ulex europaeus L. Canad. J. Pl. Sci. 81:325-337.
  8. Conant, P. et al. 1997. Appendix. Selected plant species interfering with resource management goals in North American natural areas. In: Luken, J. O. & J. W. Thieret, eds., Assessment and management of plant invasions. 255-267.
  9. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. African flowering plants database (on-line resource).
  10. Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 142.
  11. Demilly, D. et al. 1996. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 6. Note: GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France
  12. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  13. Erhardt, W. et al. 2000. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 16. Auflage
  14. Graham, E. H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. USDA Misc. Publ. 412.
  15. Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
  16. Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
  17. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
  18. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  19. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  20. National Herbarium of New South Wales. 1961-1984. Flora of New South Wales. Note: natzd.
  21. Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
  22. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  23. Quézel, P. & S. Santa. 1962-1963. Nouvelle flore de l'Algerie.
  24. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  25. Seed Regulatory and Testing Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.D.A. State noxious-weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act (updated annually).
  26. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  27. Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishEuropean gorse  1Graham, E. H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. USDA Misc. Publ. 412.
Englishfurze  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishgorse  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishwhin  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Afrikaansgaspeldoring  2Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
English (Canada)gorse  Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 142.
Frenchajonc  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchajonc d'Europe  2Demilly, D. et al. 1996. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 6. Note: GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France
Frenchbois jonc  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchjonc marin  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchvigneau  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French (Canada)ajonc d’Europe Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 142.
Germangewöhnlicher Stechginster  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2000. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 16. Auflage
GermanStechginster  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguesetojo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishretama espinosa  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishtoxo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishärttörne  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeGermany  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeNetherlands  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSwitzerland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeIreland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores  
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias  
4NaturalizedAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth Africa  Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
4NaturalizedAfricaWestern Indian OceanMauritius  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaWestern Indian OceanReunion  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateChinaChina  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEurope Europe n. & e., beyond native rangeInvasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedNorthern America United States  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern America South America  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanWest Indies  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaCentral America  Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
Native
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Italy
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France, Portugal
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias], Portugal [Azores]
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa
  • WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Mauritius, Reunion
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Turkey
  • CHINA: China
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka
  • MALESIA: Indonesia
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • REGION: Europe (n. & e., beyond native range)
Northern America
  • REGION: United States
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: West Indies
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Central America
  • REGION: South America

Reference(s)
  1. Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
  2. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
  3. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalboundary/barrier/support Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
Environmentalerosion controlcautiously recommended as sand binderGraham, E. H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. USDA Misc. Publ. 412.
Environmentalornamental Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Environmentalrevegetatorfor land reclamationInvasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Global invasive species database (on-line resource).
Weedseed contaminantpotentialWeber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Weedseed contaminantpotentialHenderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Weedseed contaminantpotentialCampbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=40812. Accessed 15 April 2026.