Forsythia × intermedia

Transcription

Nothing shouts "SPRING!" like a nice patch of Forsythia. When forsythia pops into bloom, we know -- everybody knows in their bones that the days are getting longer and the nights are getting a little warmer and the sun is getting stronger and that Spring is well underway. This iconic symbol of spring is actually an import from the Far East. It came to this country in the early days, early -- I would say early 19th century-late 18th century, even. It is not really fragrant but it sure makes a splash with the color in the spring. Forsythia prefers full sun for good flowering but it will tolerate light shade. In fact, I've seen it growing in pretty dense shade but you don't get much flowering out of it. It prefers well-drained soil and a sunny location, but other than that, it's very care-free. It doesn't need a whole lot of care. There aren't any pest or disease problems to worry about. The branches tend to dip down to the ground. Perhaps it grows to twelve to fifteen feet tall but with a very much greater spread when you consider the arching branches. If you do trim this plant, you want to renovate -- do a renovation pruning, taking the whole -- the largest and the oldest canes out of the middle of the plant and letting the new growth reach its maturity, maybe trimming some of the longer canes back if it's near a sidewalk or if it's in a place you don't want it to be. One thing I will caution you against is trimming the forsythia into geometric shapes. The little squares, boxes and balls that you see in front of people's houses -- if there's a picture next to the word 'gauche' in the dictionary, that would be it. If it ever comes to pass that you are trimming your forsythia into those kids of shapes, I'll find you! I'll come to your house late at night and I'll hide your pruners. This is a shrub that really should be let go. It should be given its graceful, arching habit and let it show its beauty, even when not in bloom.