Forsythia x intermedia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- for-SYE-thee-uh in-tur-MEE-dee-uh
- Description
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Border forsythia is a fast-growing, flowering, deciduous perennial shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae). Border forsythia is an artificial 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 because flowers appear on old growth. 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:
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Leaves are lanceolate, toothed, with a gland at apex.
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Branches are square, four-ridged, brown.
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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.
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Chaenomeles'
- 'Gold Tide'
- 'Mindor'
Also called 'Show Off', vigorous bloomer, 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. - Primulina
- 'Chaenomeles'
- 'Chaenomeles', 'Gold Tide', 'Mindor', Primulina
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chaenomeles'
- 'Gold Tide'
- 'Mindor'
Also called 'Show Off', vigorous bloomer, 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. - Primulina
- 'Chaenomeles'
- 'Chaenomeles', 'Gold Tide', 'Mindor', Primulina
- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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:
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Coninuous diphragmed
- Stem Description:
- Brown, 4-ridged, heavily dotted with lenticels. Nodes are solid, but the internodes have chambered (lamellate) pith or are sometimes hollow.
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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
