Gorse (Ulex europaeus)

Gorse is an invasive spiny shrub with bright yellow flowers. It competes with pastures and native plants, reducing productivity and food and habitat for native animals.

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How does this weed affect you?

Gorse is an invasive spiny shrub that forms dense impenetrable thickets. It can reduce pasture carrying capacity, block access and provide shelter for pests. In National Parks and other environmental areas, gorse can compete with native vegetation and increase the risk of bushfires—as it contains flammable oils and retains dead vegetation, increasing fuel loads.

What does it look like?

Gorse is a spiny, branched, evergreen, perennial shrub which commonly grows 1–2.5 m in height. It is multi-stemmed at the base and plants can live for up to 30 years.

Leaves are:

• often dark green
• spine-like with yellow tips
• 6–30 mm long and up to 1.5 mm wide
• stiff with deep grooves running lengthways
• covered in a waxy coating
• sometimes hairy
• alternate along the branches.

Seedlings have different types of leaves. They are soft and grow in groups of three leaflets.

Flowers are:

• bright yellow
• pea-like
• 15–25 mm long
• with a distinct coconut smell.

Seed pods are:

• grey, turning black when mature
• 1–2 cm long and 6 mm wide
• oblong shaped with 2–6 seeds
• densely covered in fine hairs.

Seeds are:

• brown to green with white appendages
• rounded, triangular or kidney shaped
• up to 3 mm long
• smooth shiny and hard.

Stems are:

• soft, green and hairy when young
• brown and woody when mature
• branched with sharp spines on the ends.

Roots are:

• deep and extensive.

Similar looking plants

From a distance, gorse can look like brooms. You can tell them apart by the leaves and stems. Gorse leaves are spiny and the stems have a sharp spine on the end.

Where is it found?

Gorse grows in the cool, temperate parts of NSW. The largest infestations are on the Southern Tablelands in the South East region and in the Central Tablelands. Infestations have also been found in the Northern Tablelands and Greater Sydney regions. A few plants have been recorded in other regions, though none in the Western, North West or Central West.

Gorse is native to Europe and has become a major weed in temperate western USA, New Zealand, Chile and Hawaii. It was brought to Australia during the early 1800s as a hedge and ornamental plant. 

What type of environment does it grow in?

Gorse grows across a wide range of rainfall and soil conditions. It grows in full sun to moderate shade, though plants in full sun produce more flowers. Gorse grows in:

• woodlands and forests
• grasslands and pastures
• riparian areas
• and disturbed sites such as roadsides, along railway lines, in quarries and mine sites.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Gorse during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By Seed

Germination takes place annually, although significant germination and survival events also occur after fire or soil disturbance.

Gorse plants start producing fruit when they are 18 months to 3 years old. Infestations can produce over 2000 seeds per square metre per year in ideal conditions. After many years seed banks can have up to 40 000 gorse seeds per square metre. Seeds are long lived and have been found to be viable after 26 years in the soil.

Most seeds fall around the plant. Although in hot dry weather, seed pods burst open and eject the seeds up to 5 m away from the parent plant.

Seeds are spread:

• in water
• by birds that eat the pods
• by attaching to animal fur or wool
• in mud attached to animals or shoes
• by earth moving equipment.

References

Gouldthorpe, J. (2006). Gorse National Best Practice Manual–managing gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) in Australia. State of Tasmania.

Harvey, K.J., McConnachie, A.J. Sullivan, P. Holtkamp, R. & Officer, D. (2021). Biological control of weeds: a practitioner's guide for south east Australia. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange.

Michelmore, M. & Osmond, R. (2006). Primefact 255 Gorse and brooms. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. RG and FJ Richardson.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved from 27 January 2026 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ulex~europaeus

Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. 2nd edition. CSIRO publishing.

Richardson, R.G. & Hill, R.L. (1998). Ulex europaeus L. In F.D. Panetta, R. H. Groves,  R.C.H. Shepherd, (Eds.) The biology of Australian weeds Volume 2. pp.269-290. R.G. Richardson and F.J. Richardson Melbourne.

Rojas-Sandoval, J. (2015). CABI data sheet Ulex europaeus (gorse). Retrieved 27 January 2026 from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/cabicompendium.55561

More information

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Control

Once gorse becomes established it is very difficult to eradicate due to its long-lived seeds. 

Prevention

If possible, keep livestock out of infested areas. Avoid driving through or taking machinery into infested areas. A 10 m buffer around the infestation can help reduce the spread. Check and clean machinery, footwear and vehicles before leaving infested areas.

Early detection

Inspect each year for gorse plants. Treat new plants before they flower. Control is more difficult once plants have seeded.

Grazing

Sheep and goats eat gorse seedlings. Sheep can suppress seedlings but will have little impact on adult plants. Large numbers of goats can reduce the bulk of adult plants. 

Pasture management

Well managed, dense vigorous pastures can reduce the survival of gorse seedlings. A grass-only pasture will allow selective herbicides to be used to control gorse seedlings.

Revegetation

Native grasses can compete well with gorse. If revegetating with shrubs or trees, gorse will need be controlled for several years as native shrub and tree seedlings do not compete well with gorse. Revegetation is best delayed for 2 years after control.

Physical removal

Plants are easier to dig out after rain when soil is moist. Remove the whole plant, including all roots. 

By machine

Mechanical methods are useful for reducing the above ground mass. A range of methods have been used in Australia.

• Dozing and grubbing can remove old hard plants.
• Crushing breaks the plants including the crown, into small pieces and buries the leaves and stems in the soil.
• Slashing repeatedly suppresses, but does not kill plants. It can help allow access for other treatments. Regrown slashed plants fruit even when they are only 10 cm tall.

Disposal

Plants can be disposed of by deep burial. Mulching plants and leaving onsite can suppress seedling growth. Contact your local council for further advice on disposing gorse.

Fire

Fire only kills the above-ground parts of the plant. Adult plants regrow from the root stump. Burning the top can help provide access for other treatments. Seeds buried in the soil persist and the fire can stimulate seed germination.

Biocontrol

Biological control agents should only be used in areas with dense infestations. Four biological control agents are suitable for redistribution for gorse:

• Gorse seed weevil (Exapion ulicis), which is widespread
• Gorse thrips (Sericothrips staphylinus), which is widespread but numbers are still low
• Gorse soft shoot moth (Agonopterix umbellana)
• Gorse mite (Tetranychus lintearius).

Contact your local council weeds officer for information on using biological control agents.

Herbicides

Spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage.

Cut stump method

Cut trunks or stems and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds.

Stem injection

Drill or make cuts into the sapwood all the way around the stem and fill with herbicide within 15 seconds. 

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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Aminocyclopyrachlor 240 g/L (Method® 240 SL)
Rate: 0.5 mL undiluted per cut
Comments: Stem inject: make equally spaced downward cuts into the stem to make pockets large enough to hold the herbicide. Apply the herbicide dose to each cut.
Withholding period: Nil for domestic grazing. See label for livestock export conditions.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 L per 100 L of water plus wetter 200 mL/ 100 L
Comments: Spray actively growing bushes and wet all foliage. Always add PULSE or equivalent penetrant otherwise reduced results will occur.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 30 g per 100 L of water + Pulse Penetrant (200 mL/100 L)
Comments: Spray bushes up to 2 m tall. Ensure thorough spray penetration and coverage of the whole plant.
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate

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Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg with Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: A mix of 10 g metsulfuron methyl herbicide plus 200 mL of glyphosate(360) per 100 L of water.
Comments: Spray bushes up to two metres tall. Ensure thorough spray penetration and coverage of whole plant.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon® Extra)
Rate: 250 or 350 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: High volume spray rate, cover all the foliage to the point of runoff. In spring and summer use the lower rate for plants 1-1.5 m tall and higher rate for plants over 1.5 m. In autumn use the higher rate for all plants. For best results add a wetter at 100 mL per 100 L of water (see label for compatible wetters)
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon® Extra)
Rate: 500 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Winter treatment. High volume spray rate, cover all the foliage to the point of runoff. For best results add a wetter at 100 mL per 100 L of water (see label for compatible wetters).
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut the stem close to the ground (10 cm or less). Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel onto stems less than 2 cm diameter. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 2 cm diameter.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 250 or 350 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: High volume spray rate, cover all the foliage to the point of runoff. In spring and summer use the lower rate for plants 1-1.5 m tall and higher rate for plants over 1.5 m. In autumn use the higher rate for all plants. For best results add a compatible wetter at 100 mL per 100 L of water (see label for compatible wetters)
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Winter treatment. High volume spray rate, cover all the foliage to the point of runoff. For best results add a compatible wetter at 100 mL per 100 L of water (see label for compatible wetters).
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Garlon® 600)
Rate: 170 or 340 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spray spring to mid-summer. Use the higher rate on older hardened plants. Add non-ionic wetting agent at rate of 125 mL/100 L water.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed. If use is off-label check permit.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
All of NSW	Prohibition on certain dealings Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.
Central Tablelands An exclusion zone is established for Mid-Western Regional Council, Cabonne Council, Orange City Council and Cowra Shire Council areas. A core infestation area is established for Upper Macquarie County Council area (Lithgow Council, Bathurst Regional Council, Oberon Council and Blayney Council areas).	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Within exclusion zone: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Within core infestation area: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
Greater Sydney An exclusion zone is established for the Blue Mountains City Council area. The rest of the region is classified as the core infestation area.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation area: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant.
Murray	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
North West	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Northern Tablelands	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Riverina	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Your local biosecurity weeds officer can help to identify, advise on control, and how to remove this weed.
South East Containment zone: Goulburn Mulwaree, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy Monaro, Wingecarribee and Yass Valley Local Government Areas. Exclusion zone: Whole of region except containment zone.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within containment zone: Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2026