PlantFiles: Border Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia

I make sure there is a forsythia in the yard of every house where I live. One came with the current house. It is on the west side near the patio wall. It was so small I didn't even notice the first year or so, but now with water, it has become taller than the patio and blooms profusely each spring, just when I wonder if spring will ever come. I planted a second one on the South side of the front yard next to the gate to the back yard. It has grown very large and also blooms magnificently each year.

I've always loved the early yellow flowers and easy-going nature of these shrubs, but they can get overgrown very quickly and require at least a yearly pruning. Other than that, our bush needs very little maintenance.

I LOVE my forsythia! I wish every plant I have was this care-free. I do absolutely nothing for this plant and it rewards me faithfully each Spring with weeks of gorgeous yellow color.

Forsythia is also known by the common names of "golden bells" or "yellow bells", espec. here in the South.

Granted this is a beautiful shrub, but takes a lot of pruning for it to look its best.

This is the old fashioned type of forsythia, found around abandoned homesteads. Many named cultivars are sold today.
I love this sturdy, free-flowering shrub. Drought tolerant, sun to part shade, insect-resistant, and carefree would all describe it's attributes.
It does spread by rooting wherever the long canes touch the ground, so occasionally I pull those out and move them or share them with friends. Some of the canes reach 15 feet in length, but can be cut back after flowering if desired. Do not prune back in late summer or fall because you will cut off next year's blossoms.
Foliage turns yellow in autumn for an added bonus.

This lovely bush blooms light yellow to almost an orange color in the spring. Lovely along driveways or fencelines. We have 3 of these beautiful bushes, and they are very easy to root. Just snip a branch off and stick it in the ground and within 2 weeks its taken root. Very low maintenance, and very self-sufficient.

You have to love forsythia - a gorgeous mass of early spring yellow, and bright green foliage thru the summer and fall! Can literaly become a tree. Grows great from cuttings. Wonderful in our mountains. Superb along HIGH foundations; great at property edge too! Lovely way to disguise your well or other detractions!

Some sneer at such an old-fashioned plant, but it's such a bright spot of color during those last bleak days of winter.

Some years, I bring in branches for forcing, and they make a nice centerpiece (not terribly long-lasting though.)

Arching Vase-shape. 10Ft. tall & 10-12 Ft wide. Blazing Yellow blossoms early in spring. May be used as an informal hedge.

Zones 4-9 Full sun, tol. half sun. Blooms on previous years growth and is easily propagated by "Layering".