Forsythia: description of species and varieties of shrubs, growing rules

Forsythia is an incredibly beautiful plant, intensely covered with bright yellow flowers. It belongs to the olive family and can grow both under the guise of a shrub and small trees. The plant is classified as quite ancient, which is confirmed by a rather wide growing area in the natural environment: regions of China, Japan, Korea and Europe (especially on the Balkan Peninsula). The shrub acquired its name in honor of the eminent scientist William Forsyth, who was the first to bring it to England from the Chinese forests. Initially, the flower was called forsythia, but over time the name has changed.

Forsythia is considered a symbol of spring, since it is one of the first to bloom, when the snow has not yet completely melted. Bright early flowers cheer you up after a long winter and with their flowering announce the arrival of spring. The buds on the bushes appear somewhat earlier than the leaves, therefore, during the flowering period, the shrub looks like a golden ball. The height of a perennial can be from 1 to 3 m, some specimens even reach 4 m, the width of the bush is about 2 m. The leaf plates are predominantly oval in shape, most species have simple leaves, without trefoils, although some varieties may have trifoliate.

They grow oppositely, the edges of the plates can be solid or serrated, the length varies from 2 to 15 cm, depending on the type of forsythia. The plant is characterized by the appearance of leaves at the end of flowering. The stems are covered with a grayish brown, tough bark. The flowers are bell-shaped and yellow in color, although there are varieties with snow-white blooms. The diameter of the opened bud is 2.5–4 cm, they gather in small inflorescences.

The flowering shrub lasts three weeks, then the fruits are formed - somewhat elongated capsules with light seeds inside. When the fruit is ripe, it cracks and the seeds are sown into the soil.

Perennial has a fairly abundant species and varietal diversity, but only a few lend themselves to cultivation in our latitudes.

A short perennial with a straight-growing trunk reaches a maximum height of 2 m. The foliage of European forsythia has solid edges and a size of about 7 cm. The buds are single, bell-shaped, yellow in color. This species belongs to long-livers, its representatives have reached 70 years. The plant prefers a bright place of growth, it is unassuming to soil and moisture, and also has winter hardiness.

Frozen shoots are capable of recovery in spring. For the winter, it is worth applying a layer of foliage mulch.

The variety bears great resemblance to the previous species, but is vulnerable to frost. She comes from the northern regions of China. The stems are tetrahedral and yellowish brown in color.The leaves are slightly elongated, pointed, up to 10 cm long, their upper part is dark green, and the lower part is paler.

The species differs in larger sizes, up to 3 m, belongs to the most popular varieties of perennials. The crown has a rather spreading shape with thin, arcuate stems. They are tetrahedral and have a brick or dark olive color. Young leaves are trifoliate, and mature ones have a simple shape, grow oppositely. The flowers are not too large, golden in color.

One inflorescence contains 3-5 bells. Flowering begins at 5-6 years. With the onset of autumn, the greenish leaves of the bush become a beautiful lilac shade. Representatives of this species are resistant to cold weather, but still it is better for them to winter under cover. Forsythia drooping has the following forms:

• variegated or "Variegata" stands out with golden buds and variegated crown;
• "Fortune" drooping has narrowed trifoliate leaves and dark yellow inflorescences;
• purple-stemmed is characterized by shoots of a purple hue and foliage of the same tone when opened;
• "Siebold" with creeping branches and rich yellow flowers.

The variety is characterized by tall forms, the height is up to 3 m. The shoots are directed upwards, densely covered with elongated simple leaves of rather large sizes. They have a deep green color and jagged edges along the top. The bark on the branches is the same shade. The buds are green-yellow, gather in small bunches.

The bush blooms in the fifth year after planting. This species is distinguished by a rather high drought tolerance and unpretentiousness to the soil, but it is necessary to cover for the winter, since the plant does not tolerate low temperatures well.

This species is the result of hybridization of two types of forsythia: dark green and drooping. Blooms only in the fourth year. The leaves are distinguished by the presence of notches at the edges and an elongated shape, they keep the dark green color until the end of autumn. Yellow flowers are connected in pairs in dense numerous inflorescences, which are located on rather thick, straight shoots. The budding period begins in April-May.

The species is quite resistant to droughts and frosts, characterized by rapid growth. Often this species is planted as living fences. She responds normally to the harsh climate in the Urals and Siberia. Famous varieties:

• Beatrix Farrand belongs to high crops, can grow up to 4 m, yellow petals are decorated with darker stripes at the base;
• "Spectabilis" - a small bush with large flowers and leaves that change color depending on the season: when warm they are green, and in autumn they acquire yellowish-purple colors;
• Linwood Gold differs in exuberant flowering and variegated crown;
• Golden Time - undemanding bush with voluminous flowers, tolerates well even severe frosts;
• Weekend and Melissa - recently bred varieties characterized by early flowering;
• "Minigold" - a low-growing variety of the "Linwood" variety, rarely grows above 1 m;
• "Baby" - also a mini-variety, rarely exceeding 80 cm.

A medium-sized bush with oval leaf plates, the reverse side of which has a purple color. Plant height - 1.5-2 m. Elliptical leaves are small, in autumn they turn into purple instead of dark green. It is characterized by large white flowers with a yellowish throat and a light pink center.

Also a short shrub native to Korea.The perennial has lush shoots that have a gray-yellow color. The leaves are small, in summer they are green, and then turn purple-lilac. This variety is the earliest flowering variety, characterized by resistance to low temperatures and drought resistance.

Eminent varieties include:

• Spring Glory - the highest variety with rather large flowers, which in autumn turns from green to motley;
• "Tetragold" - a small shrub has significant dark yellow ovaries;
• Goldsauber belong to quite valuable and very famous varieties, with large golden buds, characterized by frost resistance;
• Dresden Forfrühling - medium-sized shrub, dense crown, light yellow inflorescences;
• "Weekend Sapphire" has a very branched crown with flexible shoots, late-flowering, but blooms longer than other varieties, in autumn the bush acquires a beautiful purple tone.

The decorative perennial stands out with white veins on green leaf plates. It does not have a particular height, the shoots are slightly bent. Blossoms yellow, buds appear evenly throughout the branch.

Not all varieties of forsythia are suitable for the same climatic conditions, this should be taken into account when choosing. For the southern regions, the Giralda forsythia, dark green, as well as intermediate and ovoid forsythia varieties are more suitable. For the middle lane, it is better to choose the European variety.

And here in more northern areas, it is worth cultivating frost-resistant varieties of ovoid and intermediate varieties of forsythia... For the temperate climate of the Moscow region, European forsythia is more suitable, although with proper care it is possible to grow other species, but be sure to take into account their characteristic features.

Beautifully flowering bushes become a real decoration of the garden, in addition, hedges of green coniferous trees favorably set off forsythia. In this regard, the shrub must be planted in a conspicuous place where it will look advantageous. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the plant will still grow, and it needs a place for this, so it is worth placing the bush so that there is 1-2 m of free territory around. You need to choose a place for planting that is closed from the wind, but rather light, although the plant will grow well in partial shade.

Planting a perennial does not require too much effort, since forsythia belongs to unpretentious crops. When planting several bushes at once, you need to ensure that the distance between them is 1.5-2 m. You can plant seedlings both in autumn and in spring. The most appropriate time for autumn planting is September, and earlier in regions with more severe climates. A plant planted in spring has more time to form a root system, but this will result in less subsequent flowering.

Landing takes place as follows:

• dig holes 0.5 m deep in advance;
• pour a 20 cm layer of drainage on the bottom and 10 cm of sand on top;
• humus and ash should be added to the planting soil;
• carefully place the seedling in the pit, place the root collar above the soil;
• cover with earth, tamp and moisten;
• pour mulch from humus or fallen leaves on top;
• drive in a support not far from the plant to fix the bush to it.

The tree does not differ in special care requirements. Forsythia does not tolerate waterlogging, therefore, in the presence of rains, it does not need additional watering. Almost all species tolerate drought normally, but nevertheless, in the absence of precipitation, moisture is sufficient for it 1-2 times a month. After watering, you should loosen the soil around the bush and pick weeds. Feeding the plant begins in early spring, a small amount of rotted manure is laid out under the bushes (not under the trunk itself), in April it is worth feeding it with minerals, and additionally fertilizing forsythia after flowering.

Only sanitary pruning is carried out for young shrubs, in its process it is worth cutting only dried or damaged shoots. An adult plant in the spring needs to trim only the frozen ends of the stems. The main haircut is carried out in the summer, when the forsythia has faded:

• the faded branches are cut in half;
• dried and perennial shoots are cut at a distance of 40-60 cm from the soil, so new lateral stems will begin to form faster.

By pruning, the size of the bush and its shape are controlled. For adult forsythia, it is worth doing a rejuvenating haircut once every 3-4 years, when all the stems are cut at a height of 4-6 cm. This procedure stimulates the growth dynamics of new branches. Often it is impossible to carry out such a haircut, otherwise the bush will grow strongly, but it will stop blooming. At the end of winter, it is worth inspecting the bush, and if there are frozen or damaged branches, they must be removed before bud break.

Although many perennial varieties are frost-resistant, it is still worth preparing forsythia for wintering before cold weather, especially in areas with cold climates. To do this, immediately after the leaves fall, they are raked to the side, the plant is moistened and the soil near the trunk is well loosened. The roots are covered with collected leaves, it is also possible with straw, with a layer of about 10 cm, and if the bush is young, then you need to cover it completely. Flexible shoots are tilted to the ground, secured to hold, and covered. Saplings planted in the fall need shelter, but certainly breathable.

When the snow falls, it should be shoveled with a snowdrift, thus covering the bush. You can build a timber frame shelter and cover it with agrofibre or burlap. This option is suitable for regions with colder winters, it allows the bush to breathe, but at the same time not freeze. With the beginning of spring, it is removed so that the shoots do not get locked up.

Forsythia is characterized by rather rapid growth and development of the root system, so it is better to immediately plant it in the required place. An adult plant does not respond very well to transplanting and, moreover, often simply does not take root in a new place. In case of a necessary transplant, in order to achieve a good result, the procedure must be performed with great care.

The transplant is carried out as follows:

• to determine the size of the root system, it is worth examining the crown, usually their parameters are the same;
• an adult bush is difficult to dig up without damaging the roots; for insurance, you can cut cuttings for propagation;
• it must be borne in mind that the root system will not completely take root, therefore, some of the branches must be removed (forced measures to create a full-fledged plant nutrition);
• cut off all old shoots, leaving only annual (flexible) ones shortened by a third, with 2-3 full-fledged buds;
• the bush needs to be dug in a circle, gradually deepening;
• carefully plant in a prepared hole (done as in the initial planting);
• for the winter, the transplanted plant must be mulched and insulated.

There are no particular difficulties in breeding forsythia, the main thing in this matter is to choose the right type and variety that suits the given climatic conditions. There are several ways to propagate a shrub:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering.

It must be said that the seed method is not particularly suitable for hybrid varieties, since they lose their specific features, therefore it is used only for species reproduction. It is worth remembering that the process of growing forsythia from seeds is quite long-term. Seeds can be sown directly into open ground after harvesting or in spring after the threat of frost has passed. In the second option, the seed should be stored at a temperature of + 2–5 degrees. Then, at the beginning of spring, they are sown in containers with soil, humus and sand (in proportions of 2: 1: 1), covered with film or glass, the shelter is removed when shoots appear.

Reproduction by cuttings is simple, and this method is faster in time. Cuttings are harvested around the beginning of summer:

• the cut shoot should be young, about 15 cm long;
• leaves are removed from the bottom of the cutting;
• the cut is treated with a preparation for root formation;
• they can be planted in a greenhouse or in a container, but by creating the conditions for a mini-greenhouse.

You can also use woody shoots as cuttings, but they must be cut in October. For reproduction, a stalk of more than 15 cm is needed, it is planted immediately in the soil, leaving 2-3 buds above the ground. To provide them with the right temperature, they are covered with fallen leaves. Through the winter, such seedlings should take root, and with the beginning of spring, the foliage is removed and the bush begins to form.

Reproduction by layering is distinguished by such a positive moment as rapid flowering, forsythia forms buds already in the coming season. When implementing this method, you need:

• reject the shoot located near the surface of the earth from the parent bush;
• at the base, pull the stem with wire;
• make cuts on the bark of the branch at the point of contact with the ground;
• fix the shoot and sprinkle it with earth and humus.

Perennial is quite resistant to diseases and parasites, but sometimes bushes can be affected by diseases such as moniliosis, bacteriosis or wilting. When infected, you need to immediately take up treatment and not wait for the forsythia to dry out and die. The first disease is characterized by the formation of brownish spots on the leaf plates; if it is detected, all affected parts must be removed by cutting off in healthy places.

Bacteriosis is manifested by early yellowing of the leaf plates, followed by wilting of the entire bush. There is no cure for the disease, so the plant is completely dug up and burned outside the site.

When wilting, the shoots die during the flowering period, the disease is dangerous because it affects the vessels of the bush. As a treatment, the plant is treated with a solution of the drug "Vectra". First, it is applied to the trunks, and then to the shoots. In order for it to stick better to the branches, shabby laundry soap is added to the solution.

Forsythia can suffer from the appearance of nematodes on it, from their activity the leaf plates become discolored and curl up into a tube. The fight against them consists in treating the soil with the "Carbation" preparation; it is also possible to plant marigolds near the bushes, which negatively affect these parasites. Sometimes forsythia is attacked by aphids, they get rid of it with a strong soapy solution, which is sprayed on the plant, or with bitters from marigold or dandelion.

Although forsythia belongs to unpretentious and undemanding plants, some difficulties may arise during its cultivation, which can affect the general condition of the shrub.

• wrong location: heavy or acidic soil, too shaded area, the presence of drafts;
• care errors: excess moisture, wrong amount of fertilizer;
• missing or incorrect cropping;
• improper organization of wintering, especially in cold regions.

You also need to remember that the shoots are shortened only after flowering ends. Mature woody branches are cut off gradually, moreover, thinning the bushes is a necessary procedure for the normal distribution of nutrients by the root system throughout the bush.

Forsythia is a fairly common culture in landscape design. Such popularity is fully justified by its unusual appearance. The shrub is used both in the form of single plantings and in groups. The plant is beautifully combined with other shrubs, including conifers, forming a beautiful, bright spot against the general background. The bush organically fits into the now popular natural gardens.

Due to its ability to grow quite quickly, forsythia is often used as living enclosures. Hanging forsythia and its creeping varieties are often used in vertical gardening of walls or fences. Increasingly, the shrub is used not only in decorating parks or squares, but also in private plots. Low-growing perennial varieties are planted in pots and decorate terraces, balconies with them, or are placed near the house. Hanging varieties are often planted on slopes or artificial slides.

The shrub also looks beautiful in mixborders; it is also planted on alpine slides. The yellow inflorescences that adorn the site in early spring fascinate not only during their flowering, but also in autumn, when the purple foliage of forsythia looks beautiful against the rest of the greenish-yellow background.

For the features of caring for forsythia, see the following video.