Forsythia

Botanical Name: Forsythia × intermedia (commonly grown hybrid forms)

Common Name: Forsythia

Mature Height and Width:
8–10' tall × 8–12' wide (varies by cultivar)

Growth Habit: Fast-growing, arching deciduous shrub with long, outward-curving stems. Broad and spreading with an open interior framework. Naturally informal and not compact.

Foliage Description: Medium green, ovate leaves emerging after bloom. Moderate density with visible stem structure.

Flower Description: Bright yellow, four-petaled flowers borne along bare stems before foliage emerges. Flowers cover stems heavily but do not form clustered trusses.

Bloom Time: Early spring (before leaf-out)

Fall Color: Yellow to yellow-green; not consistently ornamental.

Light Requirements: Full sun for strongest bloom density and structure.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Informal hedge; mass planting; slope stabilization; early-spring accent; mixed shrub borders; naturalized plantings; large-scale foundation plantings.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Forsythia is not typically a preferred browse but may be sampled in winter or under high pressure. Established plants generally recover well.