Forsythia

Oleaceae
Deciduous, Shrubs

Native to China, Korea. From late winter to early spring, these fountain-shaped shrubs’ bare branches are covered with 3/4 to 1 1/2-in. yellow flowers; budded branches can be forced for indoor bloom. During rest of growing season, medium green, rounded leaves with pointed tips blends well with other background shrubs. Use as screen, espalier, or bank cover; or plant in shrub border. Tolerate most soils. Prune after bloom by cutting to ground a third of the branches that have flowered; also remove oldest branches and weak or dead wood. In coldest-winter climates, flower buds may be destroyed by temperatures of 15° to 20°F/26° to 29°C.

Forsythia hardy hybrids

These cold-hardy introductions have extended the range of forsythia into regions formerly too cold for successful flowering—or even for the plant’s survival.

‘Meadowlark’. To 6–9 ft. tall, 10 ft. wide; semiarching habit. Bright yellow flowers open from buds hardy to –35°F (–37°C).

‘New Hampshire Gold’. Mounding habit to 5 ft. tall and broad, with drooping yellow flowers. Buds are hardy to –35°F (–37°C).

‘Northern Sun’. Erect grower to 8–10 ft. tall and slightly narrower; reliably bud-hardy to –30°F (–34°C).

Forsythia viridissima

From China. Stiff-looking shrub 6–10 ft. tall and wide, with deep green foliage, olive green stems, and greenish yellow flowers.

Forsythia viridissima koreana

Grows 6 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide, with silver-veined, dark-green leaves. Yellow flowers appear on purple branches in early spring.

Forsythia x intermedia

This group of hybrids between parents F. suspensa and F. viridissima includes several varieties whose sizes range from about 2 ft. tall to 10 ft.

‘Arnold Dwarf’

This hybrid grows to about 1 1/2 –3 ft. tall, 6 ft. wide. Flowers are sparse and not especially attractive, but plant is a useful, fast-growing ground cover for cold climates.