Biological Control

Gorse is a dense, spiny, dull greyish-green shrub that typically grows to about three metres in the Pacific Northwest. It has small leaves that are generally shorter than its conspicuous spines. From early spring, yellow pea-like flowers develop in clusters on the ends of its branches becoming hairy black seed pods by late summer. A typical shrub produces about 8000 seeds annually. Gorse seed can lay dormant in the soil for up to 40 years and still germinate. Soil disturbance during road building and tree harvesting present opportunities for the successful germination of seed.Gorse originates in western Europe. It was introduced into New Zealand by settlers and sold by seed merchants and nurseries for private cultivation until the 1890s. Since then it has spread to cover m...