Robin Harford British and Irish folklore prominently features Gorse with its bright yellow flowers.
People believed its prickly nature warded off evil spirits and fairies.
On May Day, people would hang gorse wreaths on doors to protect against witches.
In Ireland, wearing a piece of blessed Gorse was thought to prevent stumbling or getting lost while travelling.
The plant’s year-round blooming inspired the saying, “When Gorse is out of bloom, Kissing’s out of fashion.”
In Devon, Gorse was known as the “kissing bush” and used like mistletoe at Christmas.
Some considered gorse unlucky to bring indoors, believing it could cause a death in the family.
In Ireland, people used gorse flowers to dye Easter eggs yellow.