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Bronx Forsythia Forsythia viridissima 'Bronxensis'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
for-SYE-thee-uh vir-i-dis'si-ma
Description

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.  

More information on Forsythia viridissima.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#salt spray tolerant#deer resistant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#black walnut toxicity tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#salt spray tolerant#deer resistant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#black walnut toxicity tolerant
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The brown capsules are sparse.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Bark Description:
    The bark is a tan-yellow color with prominent lenticels.
  • 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.
  • 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