Forsythia X Intermedia
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Forsythia x intermedia - Forsythia (Oleaceae) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forsythia x intermedia is a vigorously growing shrub Twigs with showy, bright yellow, early spring flowers -green when new, becoming olive-brown to yellow- emerging before the foliage. Forsythia is often used brown with maturity; have abundant, raised lenticels; as a spring accent or as an informal barrier hedge. and a combination of semi-pendulous and upturned growth habit with age FEATURES Trunk Form -the many basal branches become beige and slightly -medium-sized ornamental rough trunks with age shrub (sometimes pruned into small tree form) USAGE -maturing at about 8' tall x Function 10' wide, although -spring accent, row planting, group or mass planting, sometimes larger formal or informal hedge, border, entranceway, non- -upright oval, open, and thorny barrier, or embankment shrub; also can be straggly growth habit in limbed up into small tree form youth quickly becomes an -sometimes improperly used at foundations (where it arching rounded, thick, and semi-pendulous growth becomes too large) or pruned into formal hedge or habit with maturity topiary forms (where the need for pruning is frequent, -rapid growth rate and the shrub becomes leggy and devoid of most of Culture its potential flower buds) -full sun to partial shade Texture -very adaptable to poor soils, rocky soils, dry soils, -medium texture in foliage and medium-bold texture compacted soils, various soil pHs, drought, heavy when bare pruning, and pollution (and is therefore very urban -thick density in foliage and when bare (for mature tolerant) plants) -few disease or pest problems Assets -abundantly available in B&B or container forms -showy early spring yellow inflorescences -reduced flowering occurs in shady situations, and -rapid growth and establishment vegetative growth becomes more leggy -urban tolerant Foliage Liabilities -medium green leaves are about 4" long, opposite to -floral display often diminished by frosts sub-opposite, ovate to elliptical, and serrated on the -often spreads rapidly beyond its intended boundaries upper half of the leaf blade, with an acuminate tip -growth is often unkempt and straggly, unless -autumn color is usually yellowish green and judiciously pruned ornamentally ineffective Habitat -Zones 4 to 8 -a hybrid of Weeping Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa var. sieboldii) and Greenstem Forsythia (Forsythia viridissima), with both parents native to China SELECTIONS Flowers Alternates -bright yellow, usually from late Mar. to mid-Apr. -early spring-flowering shrubs (Abeliophyllum and effective for 1-2 weeks distichum, Fothergilla gardenii, Hamamelis x -flowers occur in clusters, emerging before the intermedia, Pieris japonica, Viburnum carlesii, etc.) foliage; the 4 petals on -fast-growing and urban tolerant shrubs (Aronia each flower are fused at arbutifolia, Cornus sericea, Salix pupurea, Viburnum the base dentatum, Weigela florida, etc.) -floral buds may be killed Cultivars – Variants – Related species when winter temperatures -There are dozens of Forsythia x intermedia cultivars fall to between -5 to -15 commonly grown today, which differ only slightly in degrees F unless insulated growth habit, mature height and width, floral density, by snow petal openness, color intensity, and relatively poor -opened flowers are not floral bud hardiness. These include 'Karl Sax', very tolerant of moderate Lynwood' ('Lynwood Gold'), 'Spectabilis', and freezes 'Spring Glory' -floral buds are set in the -Forsythia 'Meadowlark' - a hybrid of F. ovata and F. autumn, so heavy pruning europaea; floral buds are hardy to –35 degrees F; must not be done in nearly as showy in flower as other Forsythia cultivars winter and having dark green foliage, but with an arching, Fruits prostrate, sprawling, unkempt growth habit, needing -small brown capsules are lots of room, to 9' x 12' if never pruned; young ornamentally transplants often do not flower heavily in youth insignificant -Forsythia 'Northern Sun' - similar to 'Meadowlark', except floral buds are hardy to -30 degrees F.