{"assessment":{"band":"Not native","fit_score":null,"native_basis":"not_native","rarity_adjustment":null,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Reported non-native to Virginia.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a Virginia percentile","score":null,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":false,"state_rank":"SNA"},"status":"not_native","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"broad_range_note":{"review_status":"source_recorded","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","text":"Selected source categories span deep shade to full sun; broad tolerance is source-recorded, not independently verified."},"evidence_id":"fact:3f1d1b3c736f0d0564d1c43438ae8a5334640fcafc20fdb97925299e2eb499c2","levels":[0,1,2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:fd458e896578793f21e57fc22f37a0bbdf70f4e17be37a501d9c0599426db207","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":null,"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"not_native"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["51001","51095","51199","51710"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["51001","51095","51199","51710"],"growth_habit":null,"growth_habit_source":null,"invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":false,"native_basis":"state_source","native_decided_by":"va_atlas","native_evidence":[{"claim":"introduced","flag":"I","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"VA","source":"va_atlas","url":"https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3624"},{"claim":"introduced","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"CAN:I HI:I L48:I","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"basis":"NatureServe subnational native or exotic flag for this state","claim":"introduced","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"VA","source":"natureserve_explorer","srank":"SNA","url":"https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146475/Ulex_europaeus"}],"native_explanation":"Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (published flora, state claim) gives the value, over a broader claim from a higher tier.","native_provenance":{"flags":["over_higher_tier"],"source":"va_atlas","specificity":"state","tier":"published_flora"},"native_status":"not_native","package_native_status":"not_native","source_ids":["va_atlas:VA:3624"],"source_name":"Ulex europaeus","source_refs":["natureserve_explorer","va_atlas"],"source_url":"https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3624","state_rank":"SNA"},"source_refs":["natureserve_explorer","va_atlas"],"source_url":"https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3624","state_rank":{"value":"SNA"}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[0,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"light":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)"},"fit_record":{"band":"Not native","condition_evidence":{"light":{"broad_range_note":{"review_status":"source_recorded","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","text":"Selected source categories span deep shade to full sun; broad tolerance is source-recorded, not independently verified."},"evidence_id":"fact:3f1d1b3c736f0d0564d1c43438ae8a5334640fcafc20fdb97925299e2eb499c2","levels":[0,1,2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:fd458e896578793f21e57fc22f37a0bbdf70f4e17be37a501d9c0599426db207","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["51001","51095","51199","51710"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[0,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"light":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","moisture":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed","suggestions_excluded":false},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":false,"quercus_score":null,"state":"VA"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed","suggestions_excluded":false},"growing_observations":{"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Ulex europaeus","source_record_id":2993,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Disturbed forests, roadsides, and disturbed areas."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Native of Europe. Not cited in Harvill et al. (1992), but naturalized in sandy soils in York County, Virginia."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"Organism","value":"(Jan-) May-Sep (-Nov)."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= C, Can, F, FNA11.1, G, K1, K4, NE, NS, NY, POWO, SE3, Isely (1998); = n/a — Pa, RAB]"},{"field":"regional_wetland_indicators","source_column":"WetlandStatus1..5","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"Organism","value":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"UPL"}]},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Partial shade","Full shade","Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":2993,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr14","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr10":"3","Attr11":"pin","Attr12":"unl","Attr13":"nt","Attr14":"Bl5","Attr15":"lh,wh","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"bil","Attr19":"ye","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr20":"n","Attr21":"DSS","Attr3":"Part,Shade,Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_mt:n,","Attr4":" 1-12","Attr5":"s","Attr6":"x","Attr7":"y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"com,sim"}}],"values":{"geographic_range_description":"Native of Europe. Not cited in Harvill et al. (1992), but naturalized in sandy soils in York County, Virginia.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr14","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr10":"3","Attr11":"pin","Attr12":"unl","Attr13":"nt","Attr14":"Bl5","Attr15":"lh,wh","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"bil","Attr19":"ye","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr20":"n","Attr21":"DSS","Attr3":"Part,Shade,Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_mt:n,","Attr4":" 1-12","Attr5":"s","Attr6":"x","Attr7":"y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"com,sim"},"habitat_description":"Disturbed forests, roadsides, and disturbed areas.","habitat_light_categories":["Partial shade","Full shade","Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"phenology_source_text":"(Jan-) May-Sep (-Nov).","regional_wetland_indicators":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"UPL"}],"taxonomic_synonymy":"[= C, Can, F, FNA11.1, G, K1, K4, NE, NS, NY, POWO, SE3, Isely (1998); = n/a — Pa, RAB]"}},"forest_service":{"identity_basis":"Exact existing catalog or state-source name","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","retrieved":"2026-10-01T13:43:32.996838+00:00","scope":"Source botanical description; original units and scope retained","scoring_allowed":false,"source_label":"Fire Effects Information System: Ulex europaeus","source_sha256":"c08addd1cfdfbb2dcbe24de09849bc9ad8f3982234f5e39c484cc0c004be8ff4","source_url":"https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/uleeur","trait_evidence":[{"catalog_id":"nc:ulex-europaeus","field":"height_description","height_description":"Common gorse is a medium to tall, densely branched, perennial shrub up to 16 feet (4.8 m) but usually less than 8 feet (2.5 m) tall in North America.","life_stage":"general_botanical_description","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","paragraph_sha256":"4abf0405764de50ae2d86854541a6fdaafe36c600af3050cda65fc9e652115be","retrieved":"2026-10-01T13:43:32.996838+00:00","review_status":"reviewed","source_quote":"Common gorse is a medium to tall, densely branched, perennial shrub up to 16 feet (4.8 m) but usually less than 8 feet (2.5 m) tall in North America. Common gorse is woody and evergreen. Twigs are hairy when young. On older plants rigid, strongly angled, intricately intertwined branches arise from the base and end in spiny tips. Seedlings are of variable morphology [53], though seedlings and young shoots near the ground have small alternate leaves with 3 leaflets. Leaves are reduced to scales or stiff spines, 1.8 to 2.6 inches (4.5-6.5 cm) long, on mature plants such that plants are densely covered with sharp spines. Common gorse has persistent, pea-like flowers, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. Flowers are usually borne singly in leaf axils or concentrated near branch tips on 2nd-year twigs. The fruit is a legume, 0.4 to 0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, bearing a variable number of seeds (1 to 8). Common gorse seeds bear elaiosomes [62].","source_section":"Ulex europaeus, common gorse / Botanical Description","source_sha256":"c08addd1cfdfbb2dcbe24de09849bc9ad8f3982234f5e39c484cc0c004be8ff4","source_title":"Fire Effects Information System: Ulex europaeus","source_url":"https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/uleeur"}],"values":{"height_description":"Common gorse is a medium to tall, densely branched, perennial shrub up to 16 feet (4.8 m) but usually less than 8 feet (2.5 m) tall in North America."}}},"light_range":["deep shade","full sun"],"light_source":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"introduced","flag":"I","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"VA","source":"va_atlas","url":"https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3624"},{"claim":"introduced","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"CAN:I HI:I L48:I","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"basis":"NatureServe subnational native or exotic flag for this state","claim":"introduced","matched_name":"Ulex europaeus","scope":"VA","source":"natureserve_explorer","srank":"SNA","url":"https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146475/Ulex_europaeus"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","decided_by":"va_atlas","explanation":"Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (published flora, state claim) gives the value, over a broader claim from a higher tier.","label":"Not native to Virginia","provenance":{"flags":["over_higher_tier"],"source":"va_atlas","specificity":"state","tier":"published_flora"},"rule":"fact-hierarchy-2","status":"not_native"},"source_name":"Ulex europaeus","taxon_id":"taxon:07d6faab-3e57-5695-a337-81d5a0f4684e","revision":"publish:903368a2-17ec-496c-89d2-a217f30d9dda","photos":[{"id":"ulex-europaeus-6187695","src":"/api/photos/image/1481dd21dadc7c2c72e14c87f88d508f31aa5011b1ea3e53eff0365ee87d2ae4.jpg","view":"bloom","alt":"Ulex europaeus — flower photograph","width":960,"height":720,"artist":"Forest & Kim Starr","license":"CC BY 3.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0","source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_030405-0004_Ulex_europaeus.jpg","changes":"Wikimedia thumbnail; no crop or retouching","kind":"photo"}]}