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Forsythia Forsythia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
for-SITH-ee-ah
Description

Forsythia is a genus of 11 accepted species of flowering, deciduous, perennial shrubs native to China, Japan, and southeast Europe. It is a member of 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.

Forsythia is easy to grow and does best in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants in full sun will produce more flowers earlier in the spring than plants in partial 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 Farenheit may retard flower development. Forsythia can tend to grow wildly, but it can be pruned to keep the shrub's growth under control. Flowers appear on old growth, so pruning should be done immediately after spring flowering. If you prune it after mid-July, you will likely remove flower buds for the following spring. 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. Long branches that touch the ground may layer; these can be cut from the parent plant when they have sufficient roots.

Depending on the species, the mature height of a forsythia shrub ranges from 3 to 10 feet and all species produce beautiful yellow flowers in early spring. The flowers are produced on long, arching, stems before the plants leaf out. They are one of the earliest flowers to appear in spring. Stems and flowers are often cut and brought indoors to show that winter will soon be over. Forsythia flowers are heterostylous (long-style morphs mate with short-style morphs) and are thus self-sterile. Characteristics of the pith are important in distinguishing the species.

Forsythia is adaptable to many garden designs and themes, including but not limited to Asian, children’s, cottage, and winter gardens. 

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. Some species of forsythia are susceptible to leaf spot or crown gall.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
F. ovata, F. suspensa, F. viridissima, F. x intermedia
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#yellow flowers#edible flowers#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#flowering shrub#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
F. ovata, F. suspensa, F. viridissima, F. x intermedia
Tags:
#deciduous#shrub#yellow flowers#edible flowers#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#flowering shrub#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#pruning tolerant#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Forsythia
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China, Japan, and southeastern Europe (Yugoslavia & Albania)
    Distribution:
    Introduced to Spain, Central Europe, and various parts of the United States.
    Play Value:
    Colorful
    Screening
    Edibility:
    Only the flowers are edible
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Two celled capsule with many winged seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Yellow flowers appear before foliage in February or March and last through April or May. 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
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are opposite and, depending on species, simple or divided to trifoliolate, entire or serrate, ovate to lanceolate
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    Rough, grey-brown, bark.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Pith may be absent, chambered (lamellate) or continuous.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Compaction
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Insect Pests
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions