Abeliophyllum Distichum, the White Forsythia

Korean forsythia looks just like yellow forsythia – but white.

White forsythia facts

Name – Abeliophyllum distichum
Family – Oleaceae
Type – shrubby bush

Height – 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters)
Exposure – full sun and part sun
Soil – ordinary, not too chalky

Foliage: deciduous – Flowering: spring  – Hardiness: −50 °F (−46 °C)

Even though it bears the same name as yellow forsythia, it isn’t the same species. Flowers are nearly identical, and it brings a touch of creamy white to your garden, balcony or terrace.

Planting white 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.

• White forsythia does well in sun-filled or partly shaded locations.
• It tolerates shade but tends to flower less than in full sun.

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 white forsythia in a pot on a terrace or balcony, but provide for repotting every 2 or 3 years.

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

Pruning and caring for white forsythia

Korean white forsythia doesn’t really suffer from pruning and even should be pruned yearly in March to bloom better year after year.

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 white forsythia

Native to Korea, white forsythia offers magnificent blooming at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, towards February-March.

The fragrance of its flowers has a light touch of almonds, and is particularly pleasing to bees who love pollinating them.

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

Its small size makes it the ideal shrub for low-lying hedges.

White forsythia is often planted as a standalone, but also appears in groups, flower beds or flowered hedges.

Read also:

• Setting up a flowered hedge
• Pruning shrubs