Botanical Name:
Forsythia
Life Cycle:
perennial shrub
Planting Time:
spring or summer
Height:
dwarf types up to 1', standard types 8' to 10'
Exposure:
full sun to partial shade
Soil:
average to rich, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
thrives in zones 5 to 9
Bloom Time:
early spring to early summer
Flower:
yellow
Foliage:
green leaves on semi-hard woody branches
Propagation:
cuttings
Suggested Use:
shrub hedges, espaliers; good for inner city landscapes due to tolerance of poor growing conditions
Growing Hints:
Purchase plants or start with softwood cuttings from new growth in late spring or early summer, or semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer. Plants can also be propagated over winter by layering. Simply make a small cut in a pencil thick branch and secure the branch (cut side down) to a pot filled with soil while it's still attached to the mother plant. Detach and transplant in spring when roots become established. To grow hedges, space plants 4 to 6 feet apart. Regular pruning is necessary to keep plants in bounds.
Interesting Facts:
Forsythia flowers form on the previous year's growth so cut 1/3 of the shrubs older than 4 years to within 4 inches of the ground.
