Gorse

The gorse (Genista) is a perennial vine or shrub from the legume family. The plant is widely known in Western Europe and northern Africa. A lush crown of green foliage at the peak of development is covered with golden inflorescences. The gorse prefers a sunny, open area, so it is recommended to plant the crop on lawns or slopes. The shrub creates a colorful corner on the garden plot, has useful healing properties and is used as a folk remedy in the treatment of certain diseases.

Description of the plant

Gorse grows in the form of a small shrub or liana-like plant, with lily stems. Green thin shoots are smooth or covered with thorns. The length of the highest shoots is 0.3-1.7 m. The gorse semi-shrubs are divided into two types: erect and creeping. The stems are covered with many lateral processes. The leaf blades are lanceolate and slightly elongated. In some species of perennial, the dense dark green crown is devoid of lint, while in others it contains a short layer of villi. The leaves are trifoliate or simple, sit on the stems in regular order and keep on small petioles.

The three-year-old plant gradually begins to bloom. Yellow-colored inflorescences open in June and remain fresh for two weeks to two months. Flowers are collected in the axils and cover the ends of young shoots. The flowering of the species is abundant. The green foliage is almost invisible under the bright yellow veil of flowers. At the end of summer, elongated thin beans containing black long grains with a shiny skin ripen on the branches.

Growing gorse

Growing gorse is done by seed or cuttings. The seeds are harvested in August, when the beans are fully ripe. If the fruits turn brown, this means that they are ripe. The seeds extracted from the cracked beans are dried and immediately sown in open ground. The sowing depth of 3 cm is adhered to. The seeds are lightly sprinkled with earth and watered. Winter-hardened material emerges in spring. Bushes bloom only at two or three years of age.

Certain varieties of gorse are grown using apical cuttings, cut in June. Rooting successfully takes place without any preparatory processing measures. For the roots to form faster, the seedlings are covered with protective material or placed in greenhouses. The percentage of rooted seedlings is low compared to the effectiveness of seed production.

Planting and caring for gorse

Grooming outdoors is simple. He takes root well in a new place. The site must be on a slope or rise above the surface. The soil for planting is selected loose and sandy with the addition of lime. Young plants survive the transplant painlessly, but it is better to leave adult specimens in the same place. In three-year-old bushes, active growth of the rhizome is observed. The lifespan of this representative of Legumes is short.After ten years, the shoots are bare, strongly elongated and lose their decorative effect. It is better to replace old bushes with new seedlings.

Gorse does not tolerate direct sunlight, but develops only under intense light. It is recommended to choose the location of the future shrub in an open area. In the shade, the shoots lose their foliage. Flowering becomes rare.

Drought will not cause much harm to the perennial. The only threat is posed by severe frosts, therefore it is recommended to cover the bushes with spruce or non-woven material. If the winter is snowy, the plant does not need shelter.

Excess moisture in the soil negatively affects the development of seedlings. Natural rainfall is sufficient to feed the roots. When there is no rain for a long time, regular watering is organized.

The growing crown needs pruning. Shoots are shortened in spring. The bushes can be shaped in any shape. Because of the thorns, it is worth handling the bushes very carefully.

Types and varieties of gorse with photo

In accordance with the classification distinction, there are about 125 species and varieties of gorse. Part is suitable for growing in the middle zone of the Russian Federation.

Dyeing gorse (Genista tinctoria)

It grows in the west of Siberia, Kazakhstan and the countries of the Middle East. The green crown of the shrub, reaching no more than a meter, looks spreading and lush. Shoots spread along the ground and are covered with smooth narrow oblong leaves. Their size is about 2.5 cm. The species blooms with yellow clusters, which are concentrated at the top of the stems. The budding period opens in early June and ends after 65 days or earlier, depending on weather conditions. Narrow fruits emerge from pollinated inflorescences. There is a yellow pigment in the tissues of leaves and flowers, so the plant has been used for a long time to make yellow paint. The name of the species speaks for itself.

German gorse (Genista germanica)

A shrub of medium height belongs to heat-loving crops. Erect branches with pubescent bark. Sessile lanceolate leaves also have a layer of pile on the back of the plate. A long green thorn sticks out near the base of the leaf. Inflorescences-spikelets of golden color bloom in June and sit on the branches for several months until they are replaced by other fresh flowers. Ripening occurs by October. The species is considered to be quite frost-resistant compared to other representatives.

Spanish gorse (Genista hispanica)

The plant is a round-shaped bushes with thorny shoots, reaching a height of no more than half a meter. Leaves are lanceolate, shining in the light up to 1 cm long. Inflorescences appear on the bushes several times per season. The first stage begins in June, when the heads show dense bright lemon-colored flowers. Then flowering is repeated at the end of summer. It is not so abundant, however, it is still attractive and colorful. The shrub is resistant to low temperatures.

Lydian gorse (Genista lydia)

The perennial distribution region covers the southern regions of Europe. The bushes can withstand frosts down to -15 ° C. Shoots covered with rich green oval-shaped leaves bend to the ground. This species is characterized by earlier and abundant flowering.

Gorse in landscape design

The value of gorse has long been proven in landscape design. Bright, abundantly flowering bushes will always decorate the site and diversify the flower bed around the house. It is better to decorate rocky slopes and hillocks with creeping low species of this culture. The developed rhizome protects the soil from shedding.

Useful properties of gorse

The gorse tissues contain tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils. Since the perennial has been little studied, its use in official medicine is limited. However, decoctions and tinctures of gorse leaves and flowers are widely used as folk remedies that have a laxative, sedative and diuretic effect.Perennial herbal ingredients allow you to remove toxins, heal skin rashes and heal open wounds. Medicinal fees based on gorse help fight the following diseases:

• hepatitis;
• rheumatism;
• allergic dermatitis;
• malaria;
• stomatitis;
• angina;
• bronchial asthma.

Warts, papillomas are smeared with leaf juice. Abuse of the plant and use in large doses leads to poisoning. It is not recommended to take drugs for people suffering from hypertension, pregnant women and give them to small children.