Forsythia - shrubs or low multi-stemmed trees from the Olive family. They are valued for early and plentiful flowering, during which the still bare branches are covered with many golden flowers. In the natural environment, plants of this ancient genus can be found on the Balkan Peninsula and in East Asia. For several centuries they have been actively used in landscape design. Even after flowering, the bushes are very beautiful. They are covered with emerald leaves, which in the fall acquire a purple border. Although Forsythia is common in warm regions, some species are resistant to frost and can be cultivated in temperate climates.
Plant description
Forsythia or Forsythia is a lignified perennial 1-3 m high (under favorable conditions it can grow up to 6 m). The average width of the bush is 1.5-2 m. Thin erect or drooping stems are covered with gray-brown rough bark. On young branches, opposite petiolar leaflets grow close to each other. They are painted dark green and have an oval shape. The leaf with a pointed end on the sides is covered with small teeth. The length of the leaf plate is 2-15 cm. Sometimes complex triple leaves grow on the branches.
Depending on the region, in March-May the branches of last year are covered with flowers. The buds bloom along the entire length of the shoot and have the shape of a bell with four long, narrow petals. The flowers are painted in a warm bright yellow color. They tend to close the petals with a dome in the rain. After pollination by insects, the fruits ripen - seed boxes. Ripening, they open independently. Inside, in separate nests, winged seeds are hidden.
Species diversity
In total, 13 species are assigned to the genus Forsythia. Most of them are common in Japan and China.
Forsythia is intermediate (middle). The undersized ornamental shrub has straight, gradually bending branches to the ground. They are covered with narrow, oval-lanceolate leaves with teeth along the edge. The foliage is bright green. In late April, bundles of 2-4 golden yellow flowers form near the leaf buds. They remain on the branches for 3 weeks. Varieties:
- Forsythia Lynwood - a bush with erect branches 2-3 m high in spring is covered with yellow flowers with a diameter of up to 35 mm, and later blossoms bright green leaves;
- Wonderful - a dense crown up to 2 m high blooms large (up to 4 cm) bright yellow flowers;
- Densiflora - an almost spherical bush up to 1.5 m high in the middle of May, covered with twisted light yellow flowers.
Forsythia is European. A shrub with upright branches up to 2 m high grows on the mountain slopes of Albania. He tolerates frosts and loves the sun. Branches cover green leaves with smooth edges 5-7 cm long. In May, yellow flowers bloom, collected in groups of 2-5 pieces. The diameter of the bell is about 4 cm.
Forsythia is green. A dark green slender shrub with elastic vertical branches grows up to 3 m in height. Its stems are covered with green bark, and dark green lanceolate leaves with serrated sides grow close to each other. Leaf length reaches 15 cm, and width - 4 cm. In spring, green-yellow bells appear, collected in small groups. Plants are resistant to drought.
Forsythia is ovoid. The crown of bushes with a height of 1.5-2 m consists of sprawling branches covered with gray-yellow bark. They grow bright green leaves with a length of not more than 7 cm. In autumn, the foliage acquires a purple color. In spring, single flowers blooming on bare branches in the shape of a bell with a diameter of up to 2 cm. Their petals are painted in light golden color. Varieties:
- Forsythia Goldzauber - a frost-resistant variety with a lush crown, in mid-April, blossoms large golden yellow flowers;
- Tetragold - dark yellow flowers with a diameter of 2-3 cm cover the branches of undersized (up to 1 m) shrub.
Forsythia is white. A very delicate ornamental plant grows 1.5-2 m in height. In the middle of spring, large snow-white flowers bloom from many pinkish buds with a barely noticeable yellow spot in the center. Oval leaves of dark green color in length do not exceed 8 cm. Even in summer, their back is painted in purple.
Breeding methods
Forsythia can be propagated by seeds and vegetative methods. Seed propagation is ineffective and requires a lot of labor. Freshly harvested seeds are sown in the open in autumn. In winter, they undergo natural stratification, and in spring the first shoots appear. The next year, the seedlings dive, and after 3 years they are ready to plant in a permanent place. You can sow seeds in early spring in a container with sand and peat soil. They are stratified before sowing for 1-1.5 months at a temperature of + 1 ... + 4 ° C. The container is covered with a film. After 3-6 weeks, part of the seeds will germinate (germination does not exceed 50%). After a year, the height of the seedlings will reach 8 cm, and after 3 years - 90 cm. In the second year, the plants dive into the open ground. They need a thorough shelter for the winter with a thick layer of fallen leaves. Flowering occurs after 4-6 years.
With vegetative propagation, layering, cuttings and basal shoots can be used. Often drooping branches in contact with the ground root themselves. Next spring, you just need to cut them off from the mother plant and transplant them to a permanent place.
Forsythia propagation by cuttings is planned for June, at the end of flowering. To do this, cut green shoots up to 15 cm long with 2-3 pairs of leaves. At the lower cut, the foliage is removed completely and the treatment with “Kornevin” is carried out. Cuttings are planted in boxes with wet sand to a depth of 1.5 cm and covered with a film. Rooted plants can be planted in open ground after 1.5-2 months. Forsythia is also propagated by lignified cuttings. They are harvested in October, tied in small bundles and stored in a cool and humid basement until spring. In spring, cuttings are planted immediately in the garden.
Outdoor planting and care
Forsythia planting and transplanting is planned for early spring or September. It is necessary to choose a sunny place, protected from drafts and strong gusts of wind, which in winter will lead to freezing of branches. In order for the crown to grow freely, the distance between plants should be 120-150 cm. Compact varieties can be planted closer to each other.
The soil should be light, loose and fertile, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Forsythia will grow very poorly on acidic soil. In preparing the plot, the earth is dug up with slaked lime or dolomite flour. A thick layer of crushed stone with broken brick is poured at the bottom of the landing pit with a depth of 50 cm, and sand is placed on top. The root neck should remain on the surface.
After planting, the bushes are abundantly watered. During the autumn planting in the first year, it is necessary to take more care of the plant and cover it with non-woven material for the winter.
Although some varieties of forsythia are resistant to drought, most require regular, not too plentiful watering. It is important that the water does not stagnate in the soil, but also does not dry out to cracks. In the absence of precipitation, every 10-15 days a bucket of water is brought under the bush. The soil is regularly loosened and weeds removed. To prevent it from being taken in by a dense crust, they mulch peat and compost from above.
During the year, plants are fed three times. In early spring, rotted manure is scattered under the bushes. During the flowering period, a potassium-phosphorus complex is introduced. In early summer, when laying flower buds for next year, plants are watered with a Kemira-universal solution.
An important role in the care of forcing is played by pruning. Every spring, sanitary cleaning is carried out, removing frozen and dry branches. Plants older than 7-8 years need thinning of the crown and rejuvenation. They are cut almost completely, leaving stumps 4-6 cm high. Forming pruning is carried out in June, immediately after flowering. This is very important, as flower buds form on the young shoots. If you are late with the manipulation, flowering for the next year may not occur.
If Forsythia does not bloom, then in addition to untimely pruning, the reason may be hidden in the following factors:
- location in a too shaded place - the sun's rays should fall on the bush for at least 6 hours a day;
- too old bush requiring rejuvenation;
- too severe frosts in winter.
Forsythia is resistant to most diseases and pests. In rare cases, she suffers from wilting or moniliosis. The plant must be treated with fungicide and remove damaged areas. Of the parasites on the bush, nematodes settle. The soil cultivation "Karbation" helps to cope with them.
Garden use
Golden in spring, emerald in summer and violet-yellow in autumn, Forsythia bushes are very decorative. They are planted individually near the gate, in the corners of the garden or in the center of the lawn. The plant looks good against the background of evergreen trees and shrubs. In a group planting, they serve as a hedge or a framing of a flower garden.
You can please yourself with bright colors even in winter. It is enough in February to cut off several young branches and put in a vase. In 1-2 weeks they will bloom and turn into a bright spring bouquet.
