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To decorate the garden, not only herbaceous plants are used, but also various shrubs. Forsythia intermediate is not yet widely popular among Russian gardeners. But those who grow this plant speak with delight about the beauty of the bushes, which delight in early spring with yellow and golden flowers of unusual shape.
Description of Forsythia intermedia
The plant received its name from the royal gardener and botanist Forsyth, who brought the first seedlings from China to England. That is why in some sources the shrub is called Forsythia.
Under natural conditions, the plant is found in Japan, China, and Korea. Of the 11 species, only 3 are found in Russian gardens. Shrubs in one place can grow up to 70 years.
Forsythia intermedia is a deciduous shrub. These are hybrid plants reaching a height of 3 m, depending on the species.The crown is of medium branching – about 3 m in diameter. Spreading forsythia grows quickly, growing up to 25 cm in a year.
Lanceolate foliage. At the beginning of the growing season it is green, closer to autumn it is yellow. The flowers are large bells, 3.5 cm in diameter.
The shrub is especially loved by designers because it looks decorative at any time of the year.
Forsythia intermediate in landscape design
Forsythia begins to bloom in early spring, almost at the same time as crocuses, primroses, hyacinths and daffodils. That is why these plants are taken as companions to the lower level of various flower arrangements.
How can it be used in landscape design:
- in single and group plantings;
- when creating a bright spot against the background of conifers;
- when creating a trellis or hedge;
- for decorating borders;
- as decorations for balconies and terraces;
- for growing in pots;
- for creating bouquets.
Varieties of Forsythia intermediate
Forsythia intermediate is a hybrid variety created by crossing 2 species: drooping forsythia and green forsythia.
Breeders have created several varieties of this shrub, the most popular are:
- Spectabilis;
- Linwood Gold;
- Goldsauber;
- Weekend;
- Golden Time;
- Maluch.
The varieties are dominated to one degree or another by parental characteristics, but the new species are undemanding to soil and can tolerate low temperatures.
Forsythia intermedia Spectabilis is most often used in landscape design.
Forsythia intermedia Spectabilis
Forsythia intermedia Spectabilis P9 is a low shrub (not higher than 1 m) with dark green leaves. This color will last throughout the summer.In autumn, the shrub looks amazingly beautiful: the leaf blades are painted in all shades of purple.
The shoots are spreading and hanging. Flowers appear on them in the second half of April, when there is no foliage yet. Golden flowers, collected in large bunches, cling to the shoots so thickly that they are practically invisible.
Forsythia intermedia Linwood
Forsythia intermediate Lynwood has erect, spreading shoots. The bushes are quite tall - about 3 m. Flowering begins long before the leaves bloom. The shoots turn light green from the large flowers blooming.
The foliage is bright green in summer, changing color in autumn. Leaf blades may be yellow or purple.
For the winter, the shoots of the bush are bent to the ground and covered, since the frost resistance of Forsythia is average.
Forsythia intermedia Goldzauber
The variety of Forsythia intermediate Goldzauber was created by German breeders. Plants can be planted in almost all Russian regions, as they are frost-resistant.
The crown of the bush is spreading, the shoots are drooping. The height of an adult Forsythia of this variety is 1.7 m.
Plants are planted in sunny areas. The bush looks decorative throughout the growing season:
- In mid-April, bright yellow inflorescences appear, attracting insects with their aroma.
- By autumn, the color of the green leaves turns bronze-red.
Forsythia intermedia Weekend
Forsythia intermediate Weekend is represented by a low shrub. Erect shoots grow up to 2 m in height. The crown diameter of an adult plant is within 3 m.
The shape of the leaf blades resembles an egg. Bright green leaves (leaf length - 5-10 cm) bloom later than flowers. In autumn the bushes turn yellow-red.
Forsythia blooms early; as a rule, inflorescences appear in late April - early May. Bell-shaped buds with bright yellow petals. The flowers are large - up to 3.5 cm in length. The flowering is so abundant that shoots from under the flowers are not visible.
Forsythia intermedia Golden Time
This variety is represented by a low deciduous shrub. The shoots are slightly drooping, up to 2 m high. Over the course of a year, the stems grow by 20 cm.
Leaf blades with serrations. The most interesting thing is that from the moment they appear they have a variegated color. The bush can simultaneously have dark green and light green leaves with a golden-yellow border.
Forsythia Golden Time blooms early and abundantly in April-May. Golden yellow buds completely cover the stems. In place of the flowers, hard capsules with seeds are formed.
Forsythia intermedia Maluch
Variety Malukh is an early flowering deciduous shrub 1.2-1.5 m high. It blooms early, profusely, when the plants do not yet have leaves. The buds are deep yellow.
When planting the shrub, choose a place where there is no wind. Prefers moist, drained soil. In order for the plant to delight you with abundant flowering in the spring, in the fall the shoots need to be bent to the ground and covered with snow before frost begins.
Planting and caring for Forsythia intermedia
All varieties of the crop, including Forsythia intermedia Spectabilis, are widely used in landscape design.Beginning gardeners are wary of a plant with amazing flowers; they believe that it will require a lot of effort.
In fact, the hybrid is unpretentious and does not require any special agrotechnical knowledge.
Landing
It is better to plan planting in the fall, before frost sets in:
- Forsythia seedlings are planted in pre-prepared holes measuring 60x60x70 cm at a distance of at least 1.5 m, since the crown of all varieties is spreading.
- The bottom of the pit is drained with crushed stone, broken bricks, and the top is filled with a nutrient composition of humus, leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:1:2. It is advisable to add wood ash to each hole.
- The hole is filled with water, a depression is made in the center, and Forsythia is planted in it. There is no need to deepen the plant.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil, which needs to be lightly trampled and watered generously.
- Mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or humus.
- They bend the shoots, secure them and cover them for the winter.
Watering
When grown in open ground, you do not need to worry about lighting and watering. The plant is drought-resistant, so it does not require a lot of water, unless there is no rainfall. This pleases gardeners who cannot often visit their dacha.
Top dressing
Feeding frequency:
- The plants are given their first food as soon as the snow melts. It is best to add rotted manure to the tree trunk circle and loosen the soil.
- The second feeding is timed to coincide with the formation of buds. In early April, mineral fertilizers are applied to the Forsythia bushes.
- The third time, complex fertilizing is applied again immediately after flowering ends.
- The last feeding is given in the fall before sheltering for the winter.
Diseases and pests
According to the description, all varieties of Forsythia intermediate (Forsythia in Latin) are resistant to many diseases and pests.
But young plants can suffer from fusarium, leading to wilting. In addition, a black coating similar to mold may appear on the shoots.
To combat the disease you can use:
- "Fitosporin";
- "Gamair";
- "Trichophyte".
Moniliosis can be distinguished by dry brown spots covering the leaves and shoots. Treatment is carried out with fungicides.
Only a few types of pests inhabit Forsythia intermedia:
- nematodes;
- aphid;
- lacewing and cutworm larvae.
To destroy harmful insects, you need to use folk remedies or insecticides.
Trimming
Forsythia intermediate Linwood Gold, like other hybrid varieties, needs timely pruning. This procedure ensures lush flowering.
Plant pruning is planned for spring after flowering. There are 2 types of events:
- regular pruning;
- sanitary pruning.
The first cutting option is aimed at forming the crown of the bush. The shape can be any, but most often the shoots are cut to create a ball.
Stems affected by diseases and pests are cut out as needed. Every 3-4 years you need to remove old stems.
The pruning scheme for Forsythia intermediate is shown in the photo.
Wintering Forsythia intermedia
Next year's flower buds form after the plant has flowered. Their development will continue in winter. In order for the bushes to delight you with lush buds in the spring, you need to take care of the plants in the fall. Despite its winter hardiness, Forsythia needs shelter in regions where the thermometer drops below -5 degrees.
The shoots must be bent to the ground and firmly secured so that they do not rise in winter.You can cover the plantings with pine spruce branches, humus, leaves or dry grass. Place non-woven material on top. In the conditions of Siberia and the Urals, it is recommended to sprinkle the bushes with soil if little snow is expected in the winter.
Conclusion
Forsythia intermedia is an unpretentious plant from the Olive family. It is not difficult to grow; unpretentiousness is the main quality of the culture. Flowering bushes will always delight you with beautiful flowers in early spring and bright leaves in autumn.
