Forsythia
Nothing SCREAMS spring like Forsythia! This is one of the first Forsythias that blooms on new and old wood! Why does that matter? Those of us who have spent time living in the north may have seen Forsythia leaf out in the spring with no flowers because the flower buds were all killed by winter lows that got just a little too cold. This means one must wait an entire year more to maybe get flowers. This variety will flower on last year's growth like most Forsythia, but it will also flower on new spring growth, extending the bloom time. The individual flowers are also larger than most, making it the logical choice for early season bouquets when paired with tulips or daffodils. Forsythia can be forced inside by cutting the bare branches in late winter and bringing into a warm sunny space, or they can harvested in tight bud and held closed in the cooler for an extra week or two.
Everything You Need to Know
Ordering
What are Bare Roots?
Where we Ship
We ship bare roots to the lower 48 states and Alaska via FedEx. (Sorry, Hawaii!)
When we Ship
All Bare Roots will ship in March 2026. Specific ship/delivery dates cannot be accommodated. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information as soon as your order is on its way. *Clematis will be shipped separately from other bare roots.*
Order Minimums
All woody and bare root perennial varieties (with the exception of Hydrangea and Clematis) are sold in bundles of 10. Hydrangea are sold in bundles of 9 or 16, depending on the variety, as indicated in the product description. The minimum order is 4 total bundles of any variety excluding Clematis.
Clematis is sold in bundles of 25 roots. Clematis may be purchased individually, or alongside other bare root items. It will be shipped separately, and therefore does not count towards the 4 item minimum applicable to all other bare roots. Please see our shipping rules below.
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Active Orders
Order Confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email from info@farmerbailey.com shortly after placing your order. You will receive another email in February 2026 once we have a clearer idea as to exactly when your order will be received.
Substitutions and Shortages
In the unlikely event of an unexpected shortage, we will reach out to you to find a solution; be that a substitution, refund, or a combination thereof.
Cancellations
Orders may be cancelled up until February 1, 2026. Farmer Bailey retains a 10% cancellation fee on all canceled orders and order items.
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Shipping
Shipping
Bare Roots will ship via FedEx in March 2026 at a flat rate of $25 per box. 6 bundles fill one box, excluding Clematis.
So 4-6 bundles ship for $25, 7-12 bundles ship for $50, and so forth.
*Shipping to Alaska is $75 per box.
Clematis orders ship at a flat rate of $10 regardless of order size. Clematis may be ordered along with other bare root items, and doing so will add $10 to the shipping charge. So, one box of bare roots plus any Clematis will ship for $35.
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Damaged/Missing Items
Damaged Bare Roots
You may see a bit of mold on the roots, but this is normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game.
Damage in transit is unlikely, but always a possibility when shipping plant material, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or frustration if this occurs. But fear not! We will work with you to make things right.
Claims. To file a claim, fill out this form within 24 hours of receiving your order. Based on our assessment, we'll issue the necessary refund(s) right away. We are unable to accept liability for bare root non-viability if no claim was made at the time of the roots' arrival. It is possible our team will request that you plant the bare roots in question and follow up based on the outcome of the roots on or after June 1st. Farmer Bailey will not accept claims on bare roots after June 1st.
Please note: transactions completed using PayPal Express as the payment method may only be eligible for credit at www.FarmerBailey.com. Farmer Bailey Inc. reserves the right to issue discount code in place of a cash refund in these instances.
What You'll Receive
Bare root woody plants are just that! Plants with bare roots. They are dug from the field where they were grown, are washed and then stored in the perfect climate over the winter months. This process has many benefits.
Soil is heavy and messy to ship. Removing the soil makes it possible to bring in these hard to find plants from Holland where they are grown by the very folks that breed them.
Soil also can harbor insects and pathogens, so removing plants from soil helps satisfy import requirements of the USDA and ensures you are receiving healthy disease free plant material. The plants are harvested in a dormant state and held that way until they are shipped. They won't even know they have changed countries when they wake up in your garden or field in the springtime.
Our woody plants are grown in the field in Holland for 1 year before shipping to you. They are pinched a couple of times during the growing season resulting in a stocky well branched plant that will have a good structure on arrival.
These plants will establish quickly in 2025 and you may be able to start harvesting as soon as 2026 on the faster maturing crops. Height will vary, but in general they will be around 12-16" in height.
What To Do With It
All of these plants will ship to you in March at a time approprate for planting. They will be just coming out of dormancy. You may see swelling buds or a bit of new growth, but in general they will be in a dormant state and may look a little dead. Don't worry! They will wake up.
You may see a bit of mold on the roots but this is completely normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game.
If you can't plant immediately on arrival store your bare roots in the cooler. Keep them damp and wrapped in plastic as dry roots are the kiss of death for this type of product. The cold will delay their growth. Keep them from freezing. You can either pot them into 1 gallon pots or plant them directly into your prepared soil. Just make sure to plant them within a few days of arrival. They are waking up and are ready to grow, and they will decline quickly if they are not given soil, water and sunshine.
If they arrive before you can plant outside or before it is reliably above freezing outdoors, pot them, and put them back into your cooler until spring advances. They will start to grow new roots immediately. When you see new buds on the trees and shrubs outdoors it is time to bring them out.
To be honest I am being overly cautious in my recommendations, but these these plants aren't cheap. They are a long term investment that will pay for themselves many times over if you get them through this brief period of transition. Read the directions and success sure to follow.
It is a carefully orchestrated process to get plants quickly from their storage conditions to you so please do your part and be ready to plant them on arrival. There is no reason that these plants will experience any stress if you prepare for their arrival.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Forsythia |
| Genus | Forsythia |
| Species | Forsythia x intermedia |
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Life Cycle | Deciduous Shrub |
| Format | Bare Roots |
| Care |
All of these plants will ship to you just coming out of dormancy. You may see swelling buds or a bit of new growth, but in general they will be in a dormant state and may look a little dead. Don't worry! They will wake up. You may see a bit of mold on the roots but this is completely normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game. If you can't plant immediately on arrival store your bare roots in the cooler. The cold will delay their growth. Keep them from freezing. You can either pot them into 1 gallon pots or plant them directly into your prepared soil. Just make sure to plant them within a few days of arrival. They are waking up and are ready to grow, and they will decline quickly if they are not given soil, water and sunshine. This is a carefully orchestrated process to get plants quickly from their storage conditions to you so please do your part and be ready to plant them on arrival. There is no reason that these plants will experience any stress if you prepare for their arrival. |
| Netting / Staking | Not Necessary |
| Temperature Range | Hardy to zone 4 |
| Spacing | 3' x 3' |
| Soil Preference | All soil types, drought hardy when established. |
| Light | Full sun preferred but will still perform in partial shade. |
| Pruning | Mature height of 4', blooms on one year old wood. Prune in spring after flowers fade, if you prune too late into the season you will reduce the number of flowers the following year. |
| When to Plant | Spring, when the ground is workable. |
| Harvesting | Blooms very early spring, good addition to daffodil and other spring ephemeral arrangements. Stems can be harvested before showing full bud and forced into flower in late winter, or harvested right through until buds are starting to open. If harvested at peak bloom the flowers will not last that long. Expect 0 stems in year 1, 10 stems in year 2, 20 stems in year 3, 30 stems in year 4+ |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut branches should immediately be placed in water. To facilitate more water uptake, you can split the cut end of the branch a few inches using pruning snips before putting them in the bucket. |
| Diseases / Insects | Generally quite hardy and disease resistant. Susceptible to gall and twig blight. Said to be Japanese beetle resistant! |
| Bailey's Notes |
Forsythia bloom in early spring with an explosion of radiant yellow blossoms, draping its arching branches with sunshine before most plants have even awakened from their dormancy. Beloved for its vigor and resilience, this deciduous shrub is a harbinger of the changing season, thriving in a wide range of climates and conditions. Its graceful, sweeping form creates a striking focal point in the landscape, while the bright blooms make exceptional cut flowers. Forsythia branches, when forced indoors, offer a preview of spring, their flowers unfolding into glowing golden bells. These blooms hold well in arrangements, bringing both texture and vibrancy to floral designs. As a cut flower, forsythia’s long, flexible stems add height and movement to bouquets, creating dynamic silhouettes. Whether paired with other spring ephemerals or displayed alone in minimalist vases, their cheerful energy makes forsythia an enduring favorite among florists and growers alike. |
| Resources | N/A |