Forsythia - planting, pruning, and care

Bright contrast between deep blue sky and bright forsythia yellow

Forsythia is truly marvelous in spring thanks to its magnificent golden flowers.

Forsythia facts

Name – Forsythia intermedia
Family – Oleaceae
Type – shrub

Height – 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
Exposure – full sun and part sun
Soil – ordinary, not too chalky

Foliage – deciduous
Flowering – March and April
Special characteristic – Very hardy

Caring for forsythia is easy, from planting to pruning, and every bit of attention goes towards helping the growth and bloom of your plant.

Planting forsythia

This shrub is best planted right at the beginning of fall or in spring, but avoid at all costs days of freezing or very hot weather.

Even though it is reputed to be hardy (it resists to the coldest temperatures in Western Europe), root development will be at its best and settling in will be optimized.

Refer to our guidance on how to plant a shrub well.

It is also possible to grow forsythia in a pot on a terrace or balcony, but prepare to repot every 2 or 3 years.

When planting in pots, select shrub or flowered plant soil mix.

Pruning, and caring for forsythia

Forsythia doesn’t really suffer from pruning. You can prune it severely, if need be.

Only one rule if you want to have flowers in the following year:
Prune just after the blooming!

Cut it back as much as you wish, trying to keep the shape as appealing as you can.

Refer to all our guidelines on pruning shrubs

Learn more about forsythia

Forsythia is famous for its sparkling yellow blooming at the beginning of spring.

The flowers are rather short-lived, but they are simply remarkable, and their early blooming is like the preview of your magnificent gardens…

Landscapers often showcase Forsythia as a standalone, but this shrubs also does well in flower beds or flowered hedges.

Sprigs cut in winter will bloom if placed in a vase in your home. The rise in temperature will make them think it’s spring!

Smart tip about forsythia

Feel free to spread mulch to protect roots from the cold, avoid weed growth and provide the soil with the organic matter it needs.

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