Forsythia – The Golden Harbinger of Spring

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Dr. David L. Morgan

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Photo Credit: David L. Morgan

Because forsythias bloom so early, expect the plants to call attention to your spring landscape right away.

Do you have forsythias in your garden? If no, then why not? These lovely yellow-flowering shrubs that foretell the coming of spring grow in almost any soil and are are hardy in Zone 4 (Flower bud hardy to Zone 5).

Forsythias (also known as golden bells) are available in many sizes, require minimum care and tolerate city pollution. Plus, they’re represented by so many species and cultivars, you can choose the perfect one for your landscape (that is, as long as you like plants with amazing yellow flowers).

Probably no other shrubs you can name are as distinctive in late winter and early spring as forsythias. They just burst forth with golden, bell-shaped flowers on bare branches from February to April – what a delight to observe when the end to winter weather is near and spring temps are just around the corner!

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Photo Credit: David L. Morgan

Tall forsythia varieties work well along walls and fences.

There really is a forsythia for every landscape. This is a fast-growing deciduous shrub, increasing in size and width by 1-2 feet a year. Depending on selections, forsythias can be found as small as 1 foot tall, while others can grow to 10 feet high and as wide. They’re generally found in landscapes as graceful and informal hedges, planted in mass or used as striking specimen plants. Taller varieties can be espaliered against walls or fences. But no matter where they’re planted, one thing’s for sure: They’re blooming traffic-stoppers – with graceful, cascading branches of bright golden-yellow flowers!

The most popular of golden bells is Forsythia x intermedia, represented by at least 30 cultivars. ‘Spectabilis’ is a popular and vigorous selection that reaches 10 feet tall and wide. Another popular choice, as well as one of the best, is actually a selection of ‘Spectabilis’: a plant known in the nursery trade as ‘Lynwood’ (also called ‘Lynwood Gold’). Also growing 10 feet tall and wide, this forsythia might be the perfect starting place for those who are new to planting this brilliant shrub.

Warnings

Forsythia does attract several insects and some foliar diseases, but none of which are severely damaging or will prevent the shrub from flowering.

Facts

Forsythia x intermedia ‘Meadowlark’ may be the hardiest of all forsythia cultivars, thriving in North Dakota (Zone 4).

Tips

The easiest way to propagate forsythia is by rooting from ground layering. Simply stick the tips of branches on the top of the soil, then mound them. When they form roots, you can either transplant the branches into containers or place them directly into the soil. (They’ll also form roots if the branches are placed in water and left alone for about two weeks.)
Plant forsythias 4-6 feet apart when using the shrubs in mass or as a border. (If you’ve missed this spring’s blooming show and want to enjoy the flowers by next spring, plant the shrub in summer or fall.)

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