Forsythia suspensa
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Forsythia fortunei
- Forsythia sieboldii
- Forsythia suspensa var. pubescens
- Forsythia suspensa var. sieboldii
- Phonetic Spelling
- for-SITH-ee-ah sus-PEN-suh
- Description
-
Weeping forsythia is a flowering, deciduous, perennial shrub native to to China and East Asia and, in its native habitat, often found wild in thickets and grassy slopes. It is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae). The species name references the plant's hanging or weeping form.
It produces beautiful yellow flowers in early spring on long, arching, naked stems; however, the weeping forsythia blooms are not as vivid as other forsythia species. In the case of weeping forsythia, the arching stems root where they touch the ground and thereby form a spreading colony. Weeping forsythia is drought tolerant.
Weeping forsythia is easy to grow and does best in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to shade, but it is a forgiving plant and tolerates average to poor garden soils, urban conditions, and drought. The shrub is winter hardy. The plant can also be trained to grow as a vine. As flowers appear on last year's wood, pruning should be undertaken immediately after spring flowering; later pruning will likely remove flower buds for the following spring. To rejuvenate an older plant, you can cut it back almost ground level.
Weeping forsythia would be a handsome addition to an Asian, children’s, winter or cottage garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sieboldii'
- 'Sieboldii'
- 'Sieboldii'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sieboldii'
- 'Sieboldii'
- 'Sieboldii'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Forsythia
- Species:
- suspensa
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, East Asia
- Distribution:
- Introduced into parts of Spain and central Europe, various temperate United States.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Two celled capsule with many winged seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Golden yellow flowers in early spring; not as vivid a display as other forsythias. Flowers are deeply four-lobed with petals joined only at the base. These become pendent in rainy weather shielding the reproductive parts.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, serrate, simple, dark green leaves that grow to 4 inches long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Rough, grey brown bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Pith is absent from the stems (stems are hollow). Nodes are solid.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Insect Pests
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Urban Conditions
