Plant DetailShow Menu

Forsythia x intermedia is often confused with:
Jasminum nudiflorum Jasminum nudiflorum
Syringa vulgaris Syringa vulgaris 'Congo'
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Forsythia Forsythia
Forsythia viridissima Form in bloom
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Forsythia x intermedia has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Forsythia x intermedia

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
for-SYE-thee-uh in-tur-MEE-dee-uh
Description

Border forsythia is a fast-growing, flowering, deciduous perennial shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae). The genus is named for William Forsyth (1737-1804), who was the Scottish superintendent of the Royal Gardens of Kensington Palace and author of A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit Trees, which in its day was probably the most widely read work on the subject. Border forsythia is a hybrid between weeping forsythia (F. suspensa) and greenstem forsythia (F. viridissima), with the species epithet, × intermedia, referring to the plant’s characteristics being intermediate between those of the parents. It has many available cultivars. 

Border forsythia is easy to grow and does best in loose, medium-moisture, well-drained soils and in full sun to partial shade, although siting it in full sun will produce more flowers earlier in the spring. The plant matures to 8 to 10 feet high and 10 to 12 feet wide, but it can be pruned to keep the shrub's growth under control. Pruning should be done on the oldest stems immediately after spring flowering; if done after mid-July, you will likely remove flower buds for the following spring. Forsythia is a forgiving plant and tolerates average to poor garden soils, pollution and urban conditions, salt and drought. The shrub is winter hardy, but colder winters and temperatures below -5 degrees F may retard flower development because of the impact of winter temperatures or a late freeze on unopened buds. The plant is easily transplanted.

The plant has a fountain-like form and is noted for its brilliant and abundant blooms of yellow flowers in early spring before the leaves on its long arching stems appear.

Plant border forsythia as a border, hedge or in a mass planting for spectacular early color. Use it in a cutting garden or on a slope or bank where suitable choices are limited.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves are lanceolate, toothed, with a gland at apex.

  • Branches are square, four-ridged, brown.

  • Flowers are yellow, bell-shaped, with four petals.

Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems: Relatively pest- and disease-free; however, there is some susceptibility to leaf spot, crown gall and dieback. Watch for spider mites, aphids, four-lined plant bug, Japanese weevil and northern root-knot nematode. The plant can be occasionally damaged by deer and may develop suckers. 

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Forsythia.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Collector’s Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chaenomeles'
  • 'Gold Tide'
  • 'Mindor'
    Also called 'Show Off', vigorous bloomer, 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.
  • Primulina
'Chaenomeles', 'Gold Tide', 'Mindor', Primulina
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#spring flowers#tsc#flowering shrub#fantz#tsc-s#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Chaenomeles'
  • 'Gold Tide'
  • 'Mindor'
    Also called 'Show Off', vigorous bloomer, 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.
  • Primulina
'Chaenomeles', 'Gold Tide', 'Mindor', Primulina
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#spring flowers#tsc#flowering shrub#fantz#tsc-s#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Forsythia
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Drought and salt resistant.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    A 2-celled, dehiscent capsule, brown, 1/4 inch long, non-ornamental; seeds winged, many.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pale to deep yellow flowers in early spring; borne on one- to two-year-old growth. Solitary or clusters of 2-6 on old (last year's) wood. Flowers are scentless, 1 inch long; corolla deeply 4-lobed, lobes spreading, campanulate; calyx 4-lobed.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Opposite, simple, medium to dark green leaves; 3 to 5 inches long; green to yellowish green fall color, sometimes purplish; holds late into fall. Lanceolate, acute with apicular gland, toothed on the upper half, medium to dark green above, lighter below, glabrous.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Pith (Split Longitudinally):
    Chambered
    Stem Description:
    Brown, 4-ridged, heavily lenticeled; pith chambered, sometimes hollow.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Salt
    Urban Conditions