Forsythia suspensa

Plant Characteristics
Habit		shrub
Height:	⇕	2.4 m"m" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 2.4. to 12 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 12.
Width:	⇔	10 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 10.
Lifespan:	⌛	perennial
Origin:	✈	Asia
Bloom:	❀	early spring, mid spring, late spring

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun
Features:	✓	deciduous, flowers, bees, cut flowers
USDA Zones:		4 to 9
Flower features:	❀	orange, yellow

Scientific Names
Oleaceae >	Forsythia >	suspensa >			(Thunb.) Vahl >

Forsythia suspensa is a flowering plant native to Asia. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.^[1]

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. It belongs to spring flowering shrubs, with yellow flowers. And, it is grown and prized for being tough, reliable garden plants.^[2]

Read about Forsythia suspensa in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Forsythia suspensa, Vahl. Shrub, to 8 ft., with slender branches often lopping on the ground and taking root: lvs. broad-ovate or oblong-ovate, serrate, 3-4 in. long: fls. 1-3, rarely to 6, about 1 in. long, golden yellow, tube striped orange-yellow within; calyx about as long as tube: caps, ovate, about 1 in. long. China. Var. Fortunei, Rehd. (F. Fortunei, Lindl.). Of upright habit with finally arching branches: lvs. often ternate, ovate or oblong- ovate: corolla with straight and spreading twisted segms. ^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in all soil types[202] but prefers a rich soil. Succeeds in limey soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. It prefers a sunny position but succeeds in semi shade though it is apt to get leggy if grown in the shade of trees[182]. Succeeds against a north-facing wall[219]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[184]. The flowers are produced quite early in the year and are frost-resistant[182]. Plants are medium to fast growing[202]. Flowers are produced on wood that is more than one year old[202]. Any pruning is best done after the plant has finished flowering[182]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[182]. This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates within 2 months[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 15cm taken at a node, July/August in a frame. Plant out in autumn or spring. A very high percentage, they root within 3 weeks[78]. Cuttings of mature wood in a sheltered outdoor bed. Good percentage[78]. Layering in spring or summer. Plants often self-layer[K].

Pests and diseases

Varieties

Var.decipiens, Koehne. A vigorous form of the preceding: fls. always solitary, on pedicels usually ½ in., sometimes nearly 1 in. long, deep yellow, known only in the macrostylous form.

Var. pallida, Koehne. Fls. always solitary, pale yellow.

Var. vanegata, Butz. Lvs. variegated with golden yellow: fls. deep yellow.

Var. atrocaulis, Rehd. A form of var. Fortunei with dark purple branches and the young growth purplish. Cent. China.

Var. pubescens, Rehd. Similar to the preceding, but lvs. soft and short- pubescent on both sides or only below. Cent. China.

Var. Sieboldii, Zabel (F. Sieboldii, Dipp.). Low shrub, with very slender, pendulous or trailing branches: lvs. mostly simple, broad-ovate or ovate: corolla-lobes flat and broad, slightly recurved.—F. suspensa is an excellent shrub for the margins of groups, because it finally rolls over and meets the greensward. It can also be trained over an arbor.

Gallery

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References

↑ http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Forsythia+suspensa
↑ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.

Plants for a Future - creative commons text used
Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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[1] ttp://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Forsythia+suspensa

[rhs-2] Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.

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