Genista hispanica aka Spanish Gorse

Genista hispanica is a deciduous shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include Spanish gorse and Spanish furze. It comes from southwestern Europe, including Spain and southern France. It grows in scrub and on open, rocky hills. These habitats span both lowland and mountain sites. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This bushy shrub has a low, spreading form. Garden plants reach 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread reaches 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. They take about five to ten years to reach full size. Green stems and spines give the plant a gorse-like look. Leafy flowering shoots carry bright yellow blooms at their tips. Each flower measures about half an inch [12 millimetres] long. The flower clusters appear in late spring and early summer. The plant sheds its leaves rather than keeping them year-round.

Grow this shrub in full sun and soil that drains well. Poor soil suits it, so rich ground is not essential. RHS lists chalk, clay, loam and sand as suitable soil types. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soils. Its listed moisture range runs from dry to moist. Both exposed and sheltered sites suit it. RHS rates its hardiness as H5. This covers most UK sites, even during severe winters. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9.

Its spreading growth suits ground cover and low hedges. Plants For A Future suggests spacing plants about 2 feet [0.6 metres] apart. Ground cover can form in about two years. RHS lists rock gardens, gravel gardens, banks and slopes as uses. It also suits coastal gardens, courtyards, beds and wall-side borders. The sources disagree on pruning older plants. Plants For A Future suggests hard cutting for sparse growth. RHS warns that old wood will not produce fresh shoots. That warning makes hard pruning a risk. Seed and semi-hardwood cuttings provide ways to raise new plants.

Aphids and gall mites may affect this shrub. Honey fungus may also pose a risk where it occurs. RHS notes that the degree of susceptibility remains unclear. Plants For A Future records no known edible uses or hazards. That does not establish that the plant is safe to eat. It records a past use of flowers for dropsy. This is a historical medicinal use, not a treatment recommendation. The same source lists nitrogen fixing among the plant's useful traits.