Forsythia
Forsythia × intermedia
Forsythia is a deciduous shrub that covers its bare stems in bright yellow flowers in early spring, one of the first shrubs to bloom. It is tough, fast and easy to grow.
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Water young shrubs; established plants are fairly drought tolerant.
Soil
Most well-drained soils; pH 6.0–8.0.
Temperature and humidity
-30–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed in spring after flowering.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings, layering
Prune straight after flowering, cutting a third of the oldest stems to the base.
Forsythia is not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Pruning later than early summer removes next year's flowers.
Arching stems root where they touch soil.
Makes an informal hedge.
Needs a cold winter to flower well.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →
