March Shrub of the Month-Forsythia

Forsythia and I go way back. My parents had forsythia bushes dotted across the back of our suburban backyard. They were the cheery first signs of spring in the neighborhood and the background to many a photo-op. (Like our poodle, Stuffy, tolerating another Easter basket photo-shoot above. circa 1977)

Forsythias were wonderful UNTIL by mid-summer when they turned into multi-tentacled monsters that loomed over my head 50 feet. (Okay, maybe only 10’-but I was short and scrawny) I was assigned the arduous task every summer of keeping them in bounds, and since then, I’ve harbored a grudge against forsythia, no matter how cheery in spring. 

Fast-forward to 2023, and its apparent others, like me, had to tame their unruly forsythia shrubs leading to today’s DWARF CULTIVARS. No two words can make a plant-geek happier! (Other than ‘Free Plants.’)

This means you do not have to trim shrubs into geometric shapes to keep them in line. (ouch!)

You don’t have to forfeit blooms by trimming them (sometimes for a second or third time) too late in the season because they behave without the threat of Felco pruners or hedge trimmers.

Forsythia flower best in full sun but will take a little shade. It’s one tough plant tolerating poor soils, drought, and repeated trimming or, need I say, ‘butchering.’ In fact, it’s hard to get rid of once established. Forsythia is your plant if you have a tough sunny spot or rough hillside.

 When it comes to the dwarf cultivars-RESEARCH and read the plant tags! Some of the easiest to find locally are Forsythia ‘Courtasol’ GOLD TIDE, A MBG Plant of Merit that grows to 2’, and F. viridissima ‘Border Gem’, which stays under 14”. 

What I love about this plant-

-One of the first harbingers of spring.

-Stems can be forced to bloom early indoors.

-Tough plant that tolerates poor soils.

-Can be used for erosion control in sunny areas.

-Deer tolerant.

-For plant-geeks, forsythias are a prime example of heterostyly, a mechanism by which some plants prevent themselves from being self-pollinated.

What’s not so great-

-Unless you use one of the many dwarf cultivars, be prepared for a lot of pruning and trimming unless properly placed where it can spread and be left alone.

-If you’re planting in a smaller landscape or like things tight and roundy-moundy, PLEASE use a dwarf cultivar.

-If trimming is desired, do it right after it flowers. Trimming too late in the season forfeits blooms, which is the whole point with this shrub.

Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2023, All rights reserved.