WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread but very local throughout England and Wales, becoming scarce elsewhere. Habitat includes: Grassy places with heavy calcareous to slightly acidic soils in places such as rough pastures, old meadows, grassy heaths, cliffs, field margins, roadside verges, railway banks, wasteland, tracks etc. Flowers: July to September. It has declined considerably since the 1940s through the loss of old pastures, and is now rare in some counties. Growing habit: Deciduous Perennial Sub-shrub. Height: Up to 1.5 m. There are two subspecies: Genista tinctoria subsp. littoralis, Genista tinctoria subsp. tinctoria.