Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24
Speaking of Forsythio
This Pretty, but Tough, Plant Requires
No Pompering-Just Little Sunshine
By Wilbur H, Younemon
Cnrden Editor

Some gardeners are convinced
that the forsythia (goldenbel0 is
a weed because it grows so easily
i'll this area, oftentimes producing.
when uncontrolled, broad mass
of shrubbery that is not suited to
the small lot. When given an
annual pruning it may be used, in
fact, should be used, in the small
garden where its early spring
bloom is looked upon by all as
certain evidence that winter is
past and spring is here. The
masses of bright yellow bloom
stand out in bold contrast to the
still drab colored lawns and
gardens. The forsythia is a must
in every garden.
Fall is the preferred time for
planting the forsythia and it is
not fussy as to soil or exposure.
The chief requirement is for a bit
of sunlight at least part of the
day. While it will grow in partial
shade it is seldom desirable to
plant it on the north side of a
building where direct sunlight sell
dom reaches the bush. AS indi-
Gated above it is not fusSy and
does not require rich soil. in fact,
it makes a better appearance
when not fertilized since the
nodes are closer together and that
determines the location of the
forets.
The forsythia is very hardy and
does not have to be coddled in
order to protect it's flower buds
Once in a great while, freeze
may catch it in tender stage of
growth but that is so seldom one
need not consider it as a factor In
selecting the forsythia for the
shrub border.
Can Be "Bobbed."
The forsythia is such a strong
grower that it is oftentimes
"bobbed" to keep it within bounds
and, of course, such a pruning
destroys much of the beauty of
the Towering plant. 1t is much
better to remove from " to 1s
of the canes each season after
the plants have reached a ma
ture stature. BY removing the
oldest canes the quality of the
bloom is maintained because the
forsythia, like other early spring
Towering shrubs. produces its best
quality flowers on wood that is
only / or years old. After that
age, the quality of flowers tends
to decline. A systematic pruning
each spring after the Towering
season helps to keep the bushes
compact and there is little like
lihoed of their becoming shrub
jungle.
OF course, this implies that the
forsythia can be pruned in all
manner of ways and still persist,
which is the case. At least one
gardener in the Washington area
has forsythia hedge. Many for
sythiaS are planted in spaces too
small to permit normal growth
and the bushes are kept pruned
to a narrow upright form. They
are most tolerent which reminds
us that the weeping forsythia is
an excellent shrub for covering a
bank or steep slope.
: There are several kinds Of for
sythia, although the most COM
monty planted are the weeping
Forsythia supsense, and the snowy
Fl. intermedia, variety specta-
bills. This latter is sometimes
called Fortunes forsythia. The
earliest to flower. F. ovata is avail
able in a few nurseries, although
it lacks in quality of bloom and
growth habit. Forsythia viridis-
sima is of more upright habit of
growth and is desirable where
space does not permit a wide
spreading shrub such as the weep
ing forsythia. Less freely obtain
able is the variety koreana, which
has higher quality bloom and is
not quite as stiff1y upright. There
is one variety with pale yellow
flowers.
Feeding Not Advisable.
AS mentioned above the for
sythia flowers appear along the
branches at the nodes. Rapid
growth increases the distance be-
tween the nodes and the floral
effect is less dense. For this rea-
son feeding after the bushes are
once established is not advisable
unless growth becomes thin and
the plants lack vigor and a healthy
appearance. Cultivation is help
full, particularly since the bushes
Sh0y1ld mt haVo fN N0roYeofa wit,