Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in the eastern U.S.
Habitat: Roadsides, dry hillsides, fields, and other disturbed areas at low elevation.
Flowers: April-September
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pubescent shrub, 1-3 m. tall, the branches greenish, prominently angled, sharply spine-tipped.
Leaves rigid and prickly.
Flowers pea-like, showy, borne along the short, stout, lateral branches; pedicels 3-6 mm. long; calyx 10-15 mm. long, hairy; corolla yellow, 15-20 mm. long; keel hairy along the lower margin, slightly shorter than the wings.
Pod hairy.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 2: 741. 1753.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ulex europaeus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Ulex europaeus checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Ulex europaeus information.
E-Flora BC: Ulex europaeus atlas page.
CalPhotos: Ulex europaeus photos.
USDA Plants: Ulex europaeus information.
