Plant Type

Shrub

 

Height Range

3-6', 6-12'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Winter, Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Formal, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fragrance, Showy Flowers, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Truly a harbinger of spring, the bright yellow flowers of Forsythia are a welcome sign that spring is near. Forsythia is a deciduous shrub with an upward arching habit. Yellow spring flowers are followed by leaves of soft green that take on a reddish hue in the fall. Size varies with variety, so check the label. Grows best in full sun, though will tolerate part shade. Great shrub for borders and is an excellent cut flower.

Shearing really does ruin the graceful lines of Forsythia. To control size or re-invigorate for new growth, prune hard immediately after flowering or selectively prune any time during the summer; see tips for guidance. Requires well drained soil; heavy wet soils will cause it to decline and be diseased. Requires only moderate water once established. Forsythia, while quite showy in the spring, can be a bit drab in the summer, so plant it with later flowering shrubs such as lilacs and rose-of-sharon, both of which bloom later in the season.