Forsythia bush with yellow flowers in the spring.

Forsythia

Forsythia is a genus of 11 species of deciduous flowering shrubs that belong to the Oleaceae (olive family) and that are mostly native to eastern Asia. Forsythia suspensa and F. viridissima are the only two species that are commonly cultivated for ornamental garden plants.

These low maintenance shrubs are available in a wide variety of cultivars of various heights with some as small as two feet and others reaching up to ten feet in spread and height. They all produce bright yellow blooms with subtle shades being the only variation in hue.

You’ll love the pop of color that these flowering perennial shrubs provide in the early spring and the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators will also appreciate the food supply.

Ready to plant your own? Read our guides below to learn how to plant and grow these lovely beauties as well as how to select the right cultivar for your garden, how to form them into hedges, fight potential diseases or pests, and other tips. Happy gardening!

How to Grow and Care for Forsythia Bushes

A close up of the densely packed bright yellow blooms of the spring flowering forsythia, with blue sky and clouds in the background.

Forsythia is an early spring flowering woody shrub with bright yellow blossoms on gracefully arching branches. Let it take its own shape, or prune it as desired, for the perfect backdrop to colorful bulbs, or a perimeter hedge. Read on to find all you need to know to cultivate and maintain forsythia in your landscape.

How to Grow and Care for Weeping Forsythia Shrubs

A close up horizontal image of two large weeping forsythia (F. suspensa) shrubs in full bloom growing by a pathway with trees in soft focus in the background.

Weeping forsythia is a late winter to early spring sensation with its gracefully arching branches covered in little yellow flowers. It’s easy to grow in full sun and well-draining soil in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8. Read on for pro tips to guide you in cultivating healthy, show-stopping shrubs in your landscape.

5 Reasons to Rejuvenate Forsythia with Hard Pruning

A close up horizontal image of an overgrown forsythia shrub with bright yellow flowers pictured on a blue sky background.

Forsythia is a low-maintenance shrub that grows in full sun and average, well-draining soil. It’s famous for its bountiful yellow spring blooms. Depending upon the age and condition of yours, it may be beneficial to do a hard pruning. Read on to learn how to decide when this practice is the appropriate action to take.

5 Ways to Propagate Your Own Forsythia

A close up horizontal image of a forsythia hedge in full bloom in the spring garden, pictured on a soft focus background.

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, best known for its yellow blossoms and for being one of the earliest spring bloomers. These grow best in locations with full sun and well-draining soil. Read on to learn how to propagate more from the ones you have, and fill your yard with springtime cheer.

5 Common Causes of Forsythia Leaf Yellowing

A close up horizontal image of forsythia foliage pictured on a soft focus background.

Forsythia is a deciduous woody shrub with bright yellow flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring. The foliage is lush and green, and for some varieties, the color bronzes in autumn. However, leaf yellowing during the growing season may signal trouble. Read on to find out what may be wrong and what you can do.

How to Care for Cold-Damaged Forsythia

A close up horizontal image of the branches of a woody shrub covered in a layer of snow pictured on a soft focus background.

If your spring forsythia display isn’t up to par, it could be because the shrubs have suffered cold weather damage. Unusually low temperatures and frozen precipitation can wreak havoc on plant tissue. Read on to discover the warning signs and steps you can take to try to restore your forsythia to its former glory.

5 Tips for Pruning Forsythia

A close up horizontal image of the bright yellow blooms of a flowering shrub in the spring garden.

The bright yellow blossoms of arching and upright forsythia varieties are springtime favorites. To keep yours in top form, it’s important to know when and how to prune them. Read on to discover 5 tips that will help you hone your skills and have bushes that are healthier and more attractive than you thought possible.

How to Manage Forsythia Gall Disease

A close up horizontal image of the bare branches of a forsythia shrub suffering from gall disease that creates unsightly cankers on the stems, pictured on a dark soft focus background.

Forsythia is a spring-blooming shrub that is best known for its profusion of bright yellow blossoms. While they are generally quite healthy, this sturdy and fast-growing shrub sometimes develops knobby bumps along its stems. Read on to find out what these unattractive growths are and why you shouldn’t ignore them.

11 of the Best Forsythia Varieties for Glorious Spring Color

A close up horizontal image of the bright yellow flowers of spring-blooming forsythia pictured in bright sunshine on a blue sky background.

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub with bright yellow flowers that have become synonymous with spring. One of the earliest bloomers, it is sure to chase the winter blues away. Learn about 11 of the best forsythia varieties and choose your favorites, for sturdy plants that will reward with vivid color for years to come.

7 Reasons Why Forsythia May Not Bloom

A close up horizontal image of the bright yellow blooms of forsythia pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Forsythia is a vigorous shrub that is best known for having bright yellow blossoms in early spring, when most plants are still dormant. But what happens when they fail to bloom? Learn about 7 of the most common reasons why your forsythia may not bloom, and what you can do about it in this guide. Read more now.

7 Tips for Growing Formal and Informal Forsythia Hedges

A close up of a hedge with bright yellow flowers, pictured in the sunshine on a soft focus background.

Forsythia is an ornamental shrub best known for having bright yellow flowers in early spring. Its serrated leaves are green in summer, turning bronze in fall. Grow it as an informal hedge with natural contours, or manicure it with regular pruning, for a more formal shape. Read our 7 top tips to grow forsythia as a hedge.