| PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub | Course Home | Week 2 |
Forsythia x intermedia - Forsythia
Plant Viewer
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| The leaves of the Forsythia are serrated and ovate with fairly prominent veins and are arranged opposite of each other on the stem. . | A prominent feature of the Forsythia is the hollow pith, or cavity, running down the center of the stem. |
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| Bright four-pedal blossoms open in the early spring before the leaves appear and are retained on the shrub until the leaves are beginning to appear. | The blooms are very profuse and appear all along the stems at the buds. |
Plant Description
Forsythia x intermedia is a large shrub famous for its showy bright yellow blossoms in early spring. As one of the first plants to bloom in the spring it is widely recognizable, though it quickly fades from memory after the blooms are spent. Sizable, serrated, ovate leaves, arranged opposite each other on the stem, create a dense foliage cover on the shrub once the blossoming is done.
Once the blossoming is finished, Forsythia is easily identified through its stems. The most noticeable feature is the hollow pith between the bud nodes. The greenish stems also have prominent lenticels speckling the stems.
The form of the plant is naturally unkempt, especially during the blooming period when the plant can look spindly. However, they are easily pruned and shaped. Forsythia is noted for its hardiness and vigor. Regular pruning is needed to keep the plant from becoming overgrown and messy looking. Prune once blooming is completed to encourage new growth during the season.
Landscape Use
Forsythia x intermedia is often used in the landscape as a spring accent plant, either in mass plantings or as part of a larger planting. Because its tolerance of poor soils, it is an excellent choice for planting in islands of parking lots or other sites with poor soils. Dense summer foliage also makes Forsythia a suitable deciduous hedge selection.
Points of interest
Forsythia has largely fallen out of favor, largely due to its overuse in the landscape for several decades. However, there are several new varieties that are garnering renewed interest.
Notable Cultivars
Lynwood Gold: A large cultivar (8 feet tall and wide) with especially heavy spring blooming of bright yellow flowers. The blossoms are more evenly distributed upon the stems than in other varieties, creating a more uniform looking shrub. Leaves are dark green and large (5 inches) with deep serration, and more lancate in shape than the regular species.
Gold Tide (Courtasol): A low (2 feet tall an up to 6 feet wide), spreading variety of Forsythia suitable for cascading or as a groundcover. Leaves are lime green and very lancate with less noticeable serration.