Forsythia Shrub

One of the first signs of spring is the eye-catching beautiful yellow blooms of the Forsythia shrub. It’s a spring classic.  Forsythia offers a gorgeous show in the spring and is a low-maintenance plant. It would be a welcome addition to most landscapes or gardens.

Forsythias work well as either a specimen plant or a mass planting in a border. There are numerous varieties of Forsythia to choose from; some of the more common include Meadowlark, Lynwood Gold and Spring Glory. If you are looking for a low growing cultivar try Bronxensis or Gold Tide.

Forsythias are deciduous shrubs that typically display a spreading and arching growth pattern and reach an average of 8-10 feet in height.  They are one of the first shrubs to bloom in the spring, usually early April, and show off with classic eye-popping yellow flowers that last about 10-14 days.

Forsythia is a wonderful plant to force-bloom. Simply cut some branches to your desired length, bring them inside and put in a vase of lukewarm tap water. In a few days you will have a vibrant display of bright yellow blooms to enjoy.

In the fall most forsythias have little color or “fall show”. Some varieties do display yellow or purple leaves in the fall but not nearly as vibrant as the spring blooms. Just as Forsythia is one of the first spring bloomers, it is also one of the last to drop its leaves in the fall. You can expect them to last until late October or early November.

When considering a planting site for Forsythia shrubs, keep in mind that they need full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight a day) for best show. They will tolerate part-sun/part-shade but the blooms will be less vibrant in color and quantity. Forsythias are quite tolerant of a variety of soil types and conditions, but avoid planting in wet, poorly drained soils. You will find that most Forsythia shrubs are very disease and insect resistant.

Caring for Forsythias is fairly simple and generally low-maintenance. Pruning is a must for maintaining good shape and colorful blooms.  Prune  immediately after flowering as Forsythia bloom on old wood.  Mature plants should be pruned at least every other year by cutting about 1/4 to 1/3 of the oldest wood to ground level. Old neglected Forsythia shrubs can be renewed with drastic pruning. Cut all branches to within about three to four inches above ground level in the late winter or early spring. A new, healthy flush of growth will occur in the same season.

Forsythias are low-maintenance plants that have good disease and insect resistance and tolerate most soil types. Adding Forsythias can provide the spring landscape with a burst of beautiful color for many years to come.

Note: You can force the branches in late wither and then root the cuttings. Branches will root if they touch the ground. Correct forsythia care includes supplemental water during droughts and mulching in the winter. It grows cane directly from the root crown.