Forsythia
Forsythia × intermedia
One of the earliest spring bloomers, forsythia creates a spectacular display of bright yellow flowers before the leaves emerge, signaling winter's end. This fast-growing, arching shrub is virtually maintenance-free and provides excellent screening when not in bloom. The profuse golden flowers can be forced indoors in late winter for early spring color.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
for-SITH-ee-ah
Zones
5–8
USDA hardiness
Height
3-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Forsythia in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shrub →Zone Map
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Forsythia · Zones 5–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: for-SITH-ee-ah. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Layering, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Two celled capsule with many winged seeds.
Type: Capsule.
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Only the flowers are edible
History & Origin
Origin: China, Japan, and southeastern Europe (Yugoslavia & Albania)
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Compaction, Deer, Diseases, Drought, Insect Pests, Pollution, Poor Soil, Urban Conditions
- +Edible: Only the flowers are edible
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Daffodils
Bloom simultaneously with forsythia, complement yellow flowers, and deter rodents
Tulips
Sequential blooming extends spring color display and both prefer well-drained soil
Azaleas
Similar soil and light requirements, complementary spring flowering periods
Hostas
Provide attractive foliage contrast after forsythia blooms fade
Lilacs
Compatible growth habits and bloom timing extends spring flowering season
Spirea
Similar pruning requirements and complementary flowering times
Perennial Grasses
Provide textural contrast and help prevent soil erosion around shrub base
Clematis
Can use forsythia as natural support structure while adding summer blooms
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including forsythia
Large Evergreens
Create too much shade and compete for nutrients, reducing forsythia bloom quality
Mint
Aggressive spreading nature can overwhelm forsythia root zone and compete for nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Very hardy and disease resistant
Common Pests
Few pest problems, occasionally aphids
Diseases
Generally disease-free, occasional leaf spot