Forsythia Growing Guide

 

Common Name Forsythia 
Genus  Forsythia 
Species Forsythia x intermedia 
Family Oleaceae
Life Cycle  Deciduous Shrub 
Bundle Size  10 bare roots per bundle 
Care All of these plants will ship to you from Vermont in early April. 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. 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