Gorse

• Dense, thorny shrub, 2–4m tall.
• Flowers are fragrant, pea-shaped, bright yellow, 2–2.5cm long.
• Leaves are dark green, narrow, spine-like, rigid,1–3cm long and 1.5mm wide.
• Pods are egg-shaped, oblong, 10–25mm long, 6–8mm wide, turn dark brown or black as they mature.
• Seeds are green to brown, smooth and shiny, about 3mm long.
• Stems are ridged, hairy, armed with many spines to 5cm long.

• Found in national parks and other bushland areas.
• Prefers hillsides, waterways, roadsides, railways, pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, forests, disturbed sites, coastal environs, waste areas and forest margins in temperate regions.
• Occasionally found in cooler, upland areas of subtropical regions.

• Visit the Weeds Australia website and click on the distribution tab to access the distribution map.

• Flowers throughout the year, mainly July–October and March–May.
• Seeds germinate mainly in autumn and spring to mid-summer.

Environmental

• Provides shelter for pests such as rabbits.
• Increases bushfire risk due to flammability.

Economic

• Forms dense thickets and dramatically reduces stocking rates.
• Costs millions of dollars annually to manage.

• Seeds spread by animals, in contaminated soil (e.g. during road-making, grading and other soil-moving activities), in mud, by water, and in dumped garden waste.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Herbicide control

• Use follow-up treatment.
• Apply herbicides such as Grazon Extra, Roundup Biactive and Brush-off.
• Read labels carefully before use and always follow directions on label. Visit the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website for more information.

• Gorse is a restricted category 3 invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• You must not give away, sell, or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with gorse under your control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• At a local level, each local government agency must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants and animals in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on gorse. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.