Forsythia viridissima 'Bronxensis'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- for-SYE-thee-uh vir-i-dis'si-ma
- Description
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Bronx Forsythia is a cultivar of F. viridissima and is a flowering, perennial, deciduous shrub. While the species F. viridissiam is native to China, the cultivar, 'Bronx Forsythia' was grown from seed at the Bronx Botanical Garden in New York in 1939. Unlike its 10 foot parent, 'Bronx Forsythia' is a 1 to 2 foot dwarf with a flat, low growing, spreading habit that makes this plant an excellent choice as a groundcover. Growing in full sun will produce the most blooms. Its buds are considered to be imbricate, which means that they overlap like roof tiles. 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. The species name means "very green".
Forsythia is easy to grow and does best in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Forsythia is a forgiving plant and tolerates average to poor garden soils, urban conditions, 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. Forsythia can tend to grow wildly, but it can be pruned to keep the shrub's growth under control. Pruning should be done immediately after spring flowering; if done after mid-July, you will likely remove flower buds for the following spring. Keep in mind that flowering occurs on wood that is at least a year old. To rejuvenate an older plant, you can cut it back almost ground level. The plant can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings and some cultivars may sucker. Use in a shrub border, as an accent or foundation plantings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Although deer resistant, this plant is occasionally damaged by deer. Diseases affecting this plant include crown gall, leaf spot, and cankers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Forsythia
- Species:
- viridissima
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Korea
- Distribution:
- Canada, Eastern United States south to North Carolina and west to Tennessee.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 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
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The brown capsules are sparse.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Bright yellow flowers appear in clusters along the stems. 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:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, 3/4 to 1 3/4 inch, bright green leaves. The margins are toothed above the base. Green to yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- The bark is a tan-yellow color with prominent lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- A square-stemmed, multistemmed plant.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
