Read about Forsythia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Forsythia (after William Forsyth, prominent English horticulturist, director of the Royal Garden at Kensington, 1737-1804). Oleaceae. Golden- Bell. Shrubs grown for their wealth of bright yellow flowers appearing early in spring, also for their handsome dark green foliage. Deciduous: lvs. opposite, petioled, serrate or entire, simple or partly 3-parted to 3-foliolate: fls. 1-6, axillary, pedicelled, heterostylous; calyx and corolla deeply 4-lobed, lobes of the corolla oblong, longer than the campanulate tube; stamens 2, included, inserted at the base of the corolla; ovary superior; style slender with 2-lobed stigma: fr. a 2- celled, dehiscent caps, with many winged seeds.— Four species in China, Japan and S. E. Eu. The golden-bells are highly ornamental, free-flowering shrubs, with simple or ternate leaves and showy yellow flowers, borne in great profusion along the slender branches in early spring before the leaves. They belong to the showiest early - flowering shrubs, and showy yellow flowers, borne in great profusion along the slender branches in early spring before the leaves. They belong to the showiest early-flowering shrubs, and have handsome, clean foliage, remarkably free from insects or fungi, remaining unchanged until late in fall. The upright forms are well adapted for the borders of shrubberies and the pendulous form for covering walls, fences, arbors or porches. They grow in almost any kind of garden soil, and are hardy North except F. viridissima, which is somewhat tenderer. Propagation is readily by greenwood and hardwood cuttings; also by seeds. The branches of the pendulous form often take root at the tips when touching the ground, and send forth vigorous shoots, like some brambles or the walking-fern.
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Forsythia is both the common name and botanical name of a plant genus belonging to the Oleaceae (Olive family). It is named after William Forsyth, and comprises six species of deciduous shrubs to 3-6 m tall, mostly native to Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe.
The leaves are opposite, usually simple but sometimes trifoliate with a basal pair of small leaflets, and range from 4-12 cm long; the margin is serrated. The flowers are produced in the early spring before the leaves, bright yellow with four petals. The fruit is a dry capsule, containing several winged seeds.
Forsythias are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and The Gothic.
The species are:
- Forsythia europaea, from the Balkans
- Forsythia giraldiana, from northwest China
- Forsythia japonica from Japan
- Forsythia ovata, from Korea
- Forsythia suspensa, from China
- Forsythia viridissima, from China
The hybrids Forsythia × intermedia (F. suspensa × F. viridissima) and Forsythia × variabilis (F. ovata × F. suspensa) have been produced in cultivation.
Cultivation and uses
Forsythias are popular early spring flowering shrubs in gardens and parks. Two are commonly cultivated for ornament, Forsythia × intermedia and Forsythia suspensa. They are both spring flowering shrubs, with yellow flowers. They are grown and prized for being tough, reliable garden plants. Forsythia × intermedia is the more commonly grown, is smaller, has an upright habit, and produces strongly coloured flowers. Forsythia suspensa is a large to very large shrub, can be grown as a weeping shrub on banks, and has paler flowers. Many named garden cultivars can also be found.
Commercial propagation is usually by cuttings, taken from green wood after flowering in late spring to early summer; alternatively, cuttings may be taken between November and February.
F. suspensa (Chinese: 连翘; pinyin: liánqiào) is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese herbology. Forsythia sticks are used to bow a Korean string instrument called ajaeng.
Forsythia sometimes planted in the median strips of divided highways to block headlamp glare and to beautify the highways while in bloom. The plant requires little attention and can grow to sizable proportions capable of stopping small vehicles which run off the road.
Gallery
A Forsythia shrub
Forsythia × intermedia flowers and young leaves
Forsythia flowers
A Forsythia flower
A 50-year old Forsythia shrub in Maryland
