Forsythia: photo and description of the shrub, use in landscape design

Forsythia is not the name of a single plant, but of a whole genus of small trees and shrubs. Some species from this genus have been cultivated, garden varieties have been bred from them, and even hybrids have been created. In other species, wild forms of shrubs are grown in gardens. Photos and descriptions of forsythia shrubs will help you choose the right variety to decorate your garden.

Forsythia

Other readings of the name of this genus of plants: forsythia and forsythia. In total, the genus includes 13 species. Some of the species are frost-resistant enough to be grown in central Russia. The most commonly grown plant in gardens is European forsythia, a shrub with yellow flowers. This species is quite ancient and is able to grow in different climatic conditions. Other types of forsythia are also used to decorate the garden.

The length of leaves in representatives of the genus is from 2 to 15 cm. The flowers are usually yellow, with a fused corolla. Flowers can be short-columnar or long-columnar.To propagate by forsythia seeds, cross-pollination between these two varieties of flowers is necessary. The absence of one of the forms explains poor seed setting when growing shrubs in gardens.

Forsythia in landscape design

The most popular types in landscape design are European and Giralda forsythia. The bushes reach a height of 2 m. Both forsythia bushes have yellow flowers. In addition to them, two varieties with white and pink flowers can be used. Some types of shrubs and hybrids have unusual ornamental foliage.

Shrubs quickly recover after radical pruning: during the summer the shoots grow to their previous length. This property provides the landscape designer with unlimited scope for creativity. A photo of a properly trimmed forsythia in landscape design will leave few people indifferent.

Choosing plants when creating a garden can present certain difficulties. Some bushes are better suited to forming a green wall or hedge. Others will look better in flower beds. Still others need to be left in “splendid isolation” so that they do not get lost among other bushes and trees. Some types and varieties of forsythia with descriptions and photos are presented below. But only a few. The choice of these plants is much wider.

Forsythia white

White forsythia (Forsythia abeliophyllum) is an ornamental tree and shrub. Goes well in composition with other varieties of this genus. The flowers have a very pleasant aroma and attractive decorative foliage. But you need to select varieties of bushes so that white forsythia matches them in height.

The height of an adult bush is 1.5 m. It grows for about 10 years. The bush is compact. Flowers bloom in early spring.The usual color of flower petals is white, but sometimes they can have a pink tint. By Russian standards, it is not particularly frost-resistant. Can withstand temperatures down to -6°C. For growth, it prefers sunny areas protected from the cold. Suitable for a small garden or growing in a large pot on the patio.

Forsythia pink

The plant received its name for its pink flowers, the color of which is sometimes added to a lilac tint. The petals are very delicate in appearance, elongated, thin. The shrub is well suited for urban conditions, as it is resistant to urban smog. But the plant is demanding on the soil. It will not grow in poor, acidic, heavy or saline soil.

The shrub is quite demanding to care for. Every year it requires rejuvenating pruning. With this rejuvenation, the branches are cut to a third of their length. Major rejuvenation “on the stump” is carried out every 3-4 years.

Forsythia variegated

Latin name: Forsythia Variegata. The main advantage of this shrub is not flowers, but bright decorative foliage. Variegated forsythia gradually changes the color of its leaves from light green to golden yellow. This shrub will look good among dark green spruce trees or thujas. But we must take into account that the height of this variety is small: up to 1 m. The width is limited to 1.2 m. The shrub has a natural rounded shape.

Blooms in May with yellow flowers. But the plant often freezes in winter, as it is not cold-resistant. Not picky about soil.

Forsythia drooping

Also known as drooping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa). Most shrubs of this genus have strong branches sticking up. Forsythia weeping is a 3 m high bush with long thin branches that bend downward under their own weight.

It is advisable to plant this species separately or make trellises for the bushes. On supports, the stems of the bush rise above 3 m, forming spectacular golden walls in the spring.

Grows well in the southern regions of Russia. It is considered frost-resistant, but already in the Moscow region it winters only under cover.

Important! Of all the forms of drooping forsythia, the most frost-resistant is the Siebold form (f. Sieboldii).

Forsythia ovate

A native of the Korean Peninsula. The correct name for this species is “ovate-leaved” (Forsythia ovata). Forsythia got its name from its oval leaves. Harmony is disrupted by sharply pointed tips.

The length of the leaves of this type of shrub is 7 cm. In summer they are dark green in color, in autumn they turn dark purple with an orange tint. Flowers up to 3 cm in size, dark yellow.

Important! Blooms earlier than other species.

The height of an adult bush is from 1.5 to 2 m. The variety is undemanding to soil and can grow even on poor soil. But it fully “reveals” on fertile soil. This is the most winter-hardy of all garden varieties. But it is rarely used in landscape design.

Forsythia greenest

It is greenest because its foliage is dark green. The shrub has a more correct name: dark green forsythia (Forsythia viridissima). This is one of the first species introduced to Europe. It was discovered in Eastern China.

The bush grows vertically. The leaves are narrow, serrated in the third closest to the base. Yellow flowers. This species is considered thermophilic. It is most common in Finland, since there it cannot overwinter without shelter. But even there, dark green forsythia bloomed for several years. The place for planting the “curiosity” was chosen, protected from the cold.

Dark green forsythia got the opportunity to bloom in the northern country due to its late ripening. This species is the last to bloom of all varieties of the genus and avoids spring frosts.

Important! After crossing drooping and green forsythia, a new form was obtained: intermediate forsythia.

Hybrid

Sometimes green forsythia is called a hybrid of this species with the Korean form. This is a low shrub up to 1.5 m high. The flowers are rich yellow. The foliage is very decorative: bright green with creamy white veins. The hybrid looks very good on the dark greenery of coniferous trees. Thanks to crossing with Korean forsythia, Kumseong has good frost resistance, but prefers sunny places.

On a note! The hybrid also inherited white veins from the Korean form.

Forsythia intermedia

Forsythia intermedia is the result of crossing drooping and dark green forsythia (Forsythia viridissima x Forsythia suspenca). The height of the bush is up to 3 m. The branches are straight or slightly curved downwards. Blooms in late April - early May. Does not differ in frost resistance. Has good rooting of cuttings.

Forsythia Spectabilis

Tall spreading shrub up to 2.5 m high. Crown diameter up to 2 m. Yellow flowers, completely covering the shoots. The leaves are green and turn yellow, orange or purple in the fall. The edges of the leaves are serrated. It blooms in the 3-4th year of the bush's life. Blooms from late April to early May. Relatively cold-resistant, suitable for growing in winter hardiness zone 5. In the middle zone it requires shelter for the winter.

The plant does not like drought and needs regular watering. Prefers fertile soil.

Forsythia Weekend

Shrub up to 2.5 m high. Columnar crown. The trunk is brown.The flowers are yellow, densely covering the shoots. Early ripening variety: blooms in March-April. The foliage is green or light green in summer. In autumn it turns yellow, red or green. The lifespan of the bush is 100 years. Photophilous. A very frost-resistant variety. Withstands temperatures down to – 23 °C.

Important! To improve flowering, the oldest shoots need to be removed.

It grows by spontaneous cuttings, when the shoots bend towards the ground and take root. Grows in moist soil of any quality.

Forsythia Minigold

Low shrub up to 1.5 m. Crown diameter no more than 1 m. Blooms in April. The length of the dark green leaves is 10 cm. Looks good in single and group plantings. Easy to care for. It grows slowly and shading slows growth. This form should be planted in a well-lit place.

Cold-resistant. Able to winter under snow. Requires daily pruning and feeding.

Forsythia Golden Time

A tall hybrid reaching 3 m. The crown diameter of Golden Times forsythia is 2 m. It blooms in early spring. The flowers are yellow. The value of this hybrid is in its decorative foliage. The elongated, simple leaves have a bright green center and a wide yellow border at the edges. The hybrid is relatively winter-hardy, but in severe frosts the ends of the shoots may freeze.

Forsythia MeliD'Or

A miniature spherical shrub with a crown width and height of no more than 1 m. The height can sometimes be less than the width. Flowering is abundant. In autumn, green foliage turns purple.

Prefers well-lit areas and moist, fertile soil. Due to the uniform growth of shoots, it requires minimal care. Pruning is carried out every 3-4 years.

Forsythia Beatrix Farrand

A very large tall shrub. With a height of up to 4 m, the crown diameter is 3 m.Grows quickly. The annual growth of shoots is 30-40 cm. It blooms in April-May with bright canary-yellow flowers. Leaves are 8 cm long. The color is dark green, yellow in autumn. The shape is oval-pointed. There are small teeth on the edges.

The optimal planting location is in partial shade. Does not tolerate drought. Prefers fertile soil. Heat-loving. For the winter it requires mandatory shelter.

Forsythia Goldzauber

A medium-sized shrub up to 2 m high. At 8 years old, with a height of 1.7 m, the crown diameter is 0.9 m. Then it grows in width. The growth rate is average. This form has the largest flowers. The leaves are bright green, turning purple-orange in the fall. Growing season: end of April – end of October. Blooms at 4 years. Flowering time is 20 days from late April to mid-May.

Heat-loving, does not tolerate frosts well. Prefers sunny places and moist soil. Unpretentious. Easily tolerates mild drought. Can grow on any soil.

Forsythia Koomson

Ball-shaped shrub 1.5x1.5 m. Branches drooping, spreading. Flowering is abundant. The leaves are oblong and pointed. Color ranges from dark green to light green. Golden veins give the dark green leaves a special decorative effect.

Prefers sunny places, but can grow in partial shade. Not demanding on soil. Korean forsythia Kumseong has good winter hardiness, but can freeze in particularly severe cold weather. Easily restored after freezing and pruning.

Forsythia Goldraush

Medium-sized hybrid shrub with early flowering. Blooms in March with complete absence of leaves. New shoots and leaves appear after flowering. Plant height up to 3 m. Crown diameter 2.5-3 m.

Features of care

With proper care, forsythia that turns green in the garden pleases the eye even in the summer after flowering.In autumn, the colorful foliage makes these plants even more elegant. But to do this, you need to monitor the bush and care for it properly.

Most species require annual pruning. An untrimmed bush looks very sloppy and is not suitable for decorating a garden. A correctly designed bush fits well into the composition. The shrub can be given a round shape if the plant is used for a flower bed, or rectangular when forming a wall.

The shrub is unpretentious, but for beautiful and abundant flowering it requires annual feeding with fertilizers. Plants prefer moist soil and regular watering.

Due to low resistance to frost, flower buds of uncovered bushes freeze and forsythia is not able to bloom in the spring. Therefore, the bushes must be covered for the winter.

It is difficult to obtain seeds when grown in the garden, but the bushes propagate well from cuttings.

Conclusion

The photo and description of the forsythia shrub given in the article will help you get an idea of what this or that form will look like in the garden. When drawing up a landscape design plan, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of each type of plant.