Jesse Saylor
Family
Oleaceae
Botanical Name
Forsythia 'Northern Gold'
Plant Common Name
Forsythia, Northern Gold Forsythia
General Description
Blooming reliably in areas that are too cold for most forsythias, this upright, medium-sized shrub announces spring with an abundance of sunny flowers. Introduced in 1979 by Agriculture Canada, 'Northern Gold' derives from a 1962 cross between Forsythia ovata 'Ottawa' and F. europaea.
The oval, serrated, yellowish green leaves of this deciduous shrub are paired along erect to slightly arching branches. The leaves often assume maroon tints in autumn. The funnel-shaped, unscented, golden yellow flowers crowd the branches in late winter and early spring, before the leaves emerge. The flowers are infertile, producing no seed.
This sun-loving shrub thrives in fertile, well drained soil, but will tolerate a wide range of conditions. Use it as a specimen, in mixed borders, or in groupings. Branches may be cut in late winter and brought indoors to force into flower in a vase of water.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 9
-
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19
-
Plant Type
Shrub
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
-
Height
6'-8' / 1.8m - 2.4m
-
Width
6'-8' / 1.8m - 2.4m
-
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
-
Native To
Hybrid Origin
