11 named cultivars

shrub

Forsythia

The Story

Plant Bio

Forsythia x intermedia is a fast, arching deciduous shrub raised from two Chinese species, reaching eight to ten feet tall and wider still. Before the leaves appear, the bare stems are covered along their whole length with small four-petalled golden-yellow flowers, making it one of the earliest and most conspicuous shrubs of spring.

It flowers on wood made the previous summer, so prune it within a few weeks of the flowers fading; a late-winter tidy removes exactly the growth that would have bloomed. It is also far larger than most people plan for — ten feet across is normal — so shearing it into a ball each year is what produces those bare, twiggy, flowerless shrubs seen in front gardens.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense sheet of golden flower on bare stems, among the first shrubs to break in spring.

Fast, cheap, adaptable and easy to root, making it a quick informal screen on poor ground.

Early bees visit the flowers, though the nectar value is modest compared with native spring shrubs.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

108 inches

Width

132 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Garden hybrid of Chinese species

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun for the heaviest flowering.
Allow ten to twelve feet of width at maturity.
Give it any reasonably drained soil; it is not fussy.
Prune within weeks of flowering, never later.
Cut a third of the oldest stems to the ground each year.
Choose a dwarf cultivar if space is genuinely tight.

Pro Tip

Stems cut in late winter and brought indoors will open in a vase within a fortnight, well ahead of the garden display.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Prune straight after the flowers fade ✂️
Remove a third of the oldest stems yearly 🪵
Give it full sun for the best flowering ☀️
Allow it ten feet of width 📏

Don't

Prune in late winter — that is next spring's flowers ❌
Shear it into a formal ball ❌
Squeeze the full-size hybrid into a small bed ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Force
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Informal screen or boundary hedgeBank and slope planting where it can spreadEarly spring colour at the back of a border

Companion Plants

Daffodil Grape Hyacinth Lilac Spirea Hellebore

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Forsythia questions

What zones can Forsythia grow in?

Forsythia is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Forsythia deer resistant?

Yes — Forsythia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Forsythia bloom?

Forsythia typically blooms in early spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Forsythia need full sun?

Forsythia does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Forsythia drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Forsythia handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.