Forsythia Information from Chris Orser Landscaping, Inc, of Bucks County, PA

This Month's How-To:
Plant Profile: Forsythia

Who doesn’t love seeing the bright yellow blooms of Forsythia after a cold, gray winter? We are lucky that this beautiful shrub is not only easy to grow but are also very versatile in the garden.

Forsythia received its genus from chief gardener and founding member of the Royal Horticultural Society in Britain, William Forsyth. It is primarily native to Asia, but there is one variety originating in southeastern Europe. Generally, it is hardy to US Zone 5. Ideally, Forsythia is to be planted in full sun, in well drained soil.

In the landscape, forsythia is often used as a hedge or border plant. It can also be used to reduce soil erosion on slopes.

For all of its uses, Forsythia has one major flaw: it is unruly and hard to maintain. Fortunately, in 2007 a dwarf variety became widely available. “Show Off” Forsythia grows to a mature height of only three to six feet. This, along with its unique dark green foliage and head to root blooms, make “Show Off” Forsythia a sure bet in tight spaces.


Installation Our Process Design Imaging Hardscaping Ponds Gardens Maintenance Lawn Service Pruning Fertilizer Leaf Clean Up Snow Removal About Us Newsletters Promotions Landscaping How-To's Contact Us	This Month's How-To: Plant Profile: Forsythia Who doesn’t love seeing the bright yellow blooms of Forsythia after a cold, gray winter? We are lucky that this beautiful shrub is not only easy to grow but are also very versatile in the garden. Forsythia received its genus from chief gardener and founding member of the Royal Horticultural Society in Britain, William Forsyth. It is primarily native to Asia, but there is one variety originating in southeastern Europe. Generally, it is hardy to US Zone 5. Ideally, Forsythia is to be planted in full sun, in well drained soil. In the landscape, forsythia is often used as a hedge or border plant. It can also be used to reduce soil erosion on slopes. For all of its uses, Forsythia has one major flaw: it is unruly and hard to maintain. Fortunately, in 2007 a dwarf variety became widely available. “Show Off” Forsythia grows to a mature height of only three to six feet. This, along with its unique dark green foliage and head to root blooms, make “Show Off” Forsythia a sure bet in tight spaces.	Forsythia is to be pruned in the spring, just after it has finished blooming. If pruning takes place too late, the blooms for the following spring will be destroyed. No more than one quarter of the plant (preferably the oldest branches) should be pruned at one time. This sort of limited pruning promotes a more compact shrub and encourages new growth. In addition, Forsythia branches are extremely popular among gardeners who force blooms in the middle of winter. This process, known as vernalization, takes place after the plant has been exposed to the cold dark winter months for a prolonged period of time before being prematurely exposed to light and warmth. By closely controlling the environment, cuttings from Forsythia can be forced into bloom as early as February.