Which forsythia

Forsythia may also be used to create a hedge and may be planted with a 3- or 4-foot spacing between plants. The ideal soil is fertile, loose and well-drained, although it will tolerate almost any soil condition. Forsythia should be planted in full sun for maximum flowering. The forsythia hybrids compete successfully with the demanding roots of other shrubs and trees and transplant easily.

Prune in spring after flowering so that buds for the next year can develop in the fall. Potential flowers for the next year will be cut off if the plant is pruned after the buds develop. Pruning should not be a shearing process, but a thinning out of the older branches at the base of the plant, allowing the more vigorous branches to take over. They are often sheared to make a formal hedge or to reduce the size of the plant, but this detracts from the graceful habit of growth.

They can be cut back to the ground and allowed to produce all new growth. Forsythia can be forced to bloom indoors before it would normally occur outdoors.

Between early January and late February, cut branches, bring indoors and place them in water. Flowers will open in about 10 days. Like with most hardwood deciduous shrubs, softwood forsythia cuttings taken in late spring to early summer root easily.

However, semi-hardwood cuttings taken later in the summer will also root easily. Phomopsis galls on Forsythia x intermedia. Serious problems are infrequent with forsythia in South Carolina. The most common problem is with Phytophthora root rot, which may occur when forsythia is planted in a poorly drained soil. Prevention is the key; plant forsythia in well-drained soil. Botryosphaeria canker can be a problem on any woody shrub under extended drought conditions.

Prune out any dying branches and dispose of prunings. Growth is upward and arching, for naturalistic, informal privacy hedges, stand-alone specimens, or mixed shrub groupings. You can create privacy around a property perimeter, or plant as an imposing stand-alone specimen that welcomes spring with voluminous quantities of bold blossoms. Unlike many varieties, this cultivar blooms on both old and new wood, and provides masses of golden color on its upright branches.

Foliage bronzes to golds and purples in the fall. You can find potted starter plants available from Burpee. You can find bare root stems available at Nature Hills Nursery. An abundance of bright yellow flowers are followed by deep green leaves that turn burgundy as autumn rolls around. With heights and widths of five to six feet, its vertical growth habit and compact form makes it well suited to close planting for hedging. This cultivar is hardy to Zone 4. Its airy nature and four- to six-feet height make this an attractive choice for stand-alone or mixed shrub group placements.

You can find bare root plants available at Nature Hills Nursery. For me, the first sighting of yellow brings a sense of giddy anticipation of the gardening season to come, and a welcome sense of having weathered another winter. I also like forsythia because it is so user friendly. Simply snip a stem and push it into the soil, or bend a branch to the ground and cover it with a rock, and nine times out of ten, roots will sprout. With its tolerance for poor soil and pollution, forsythia is a useful choice for locations where erosion is a problem, as well as in urban settings.

And finally, in addition to the wealth of flowers in springtime, these fast-growing, sturdy, long-lived shrubs offer an early nectar source to native bees, as well as year-round habitat for small wildlife, like birds. See our TOS for more details. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. Bronxensis F. Its compact growth habit makes it well suited to container gardening.

Note that even the most hardy of forsythia may still suffer occasional flower bud death during mid- or late-winter thaws. The following cultivated varieties have been selected for flower bud hardiness, plant form and size, and pest and stress tolerances.

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