• Photo of Forsythia ovata (Forsythia ovatas)

Plant Profile: Forsythia ovata

Taxonomy: Forsythia ovata

Names

Early Forsythia, Korean Forsythia

  • Photo of Forsythia ovata (Forsythia ovatas)

Phonetic Spelling:for-SYE-thee-uh oh-VAY-tuh

Genus:Forsythia

Species:ovata

Family:Oleaceae

Forsythia ovata thrives best in full sunlight but can also flourish in partial shade. This particular variety is resilient during winter in its designated growing zones. It is among the earliest forsythias to bloom each spring, and its ability to withstand cold temperatures distinguishes it from other types. The flowers emerge on bare branches, making it a striking sight. This plant is low-maintenance, as it adapts well to various soil pH levels and textures.

After its blooming period, the plant's inconspicuous leaves allow it to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Nevertheless, its compact, bushy growth and spreading branches make it an excellent option for mass plantings, borders, or hedges.

To maintain its shape, it is advisable to prune the plant once flowering has finished.

Potential issues include leaf spot, crown gall, and dieback, while spider mites and aphids may also be attracted to the plant.

For further details on Forsythia, additional resources are available.

Forsythia ovata Feature Summary

Forsythia ovata Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#deer resistant
#clay soils tolerant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Forsythia ovata Feature Summary

Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Flowers
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Barrier
Patio
Walkways
Recreational Play Area
Meadow
Slope/Bank

Forsythia ovata Attributes

Forsythia ovata: Country Or Region Of Origin

Korea

Forsythia ovata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Forsythia ovata: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Forsythia ovata: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Forsythia ovata Whole Plant Traits

Forsythia ovata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Forsythia ovata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Forsythia ovata: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Forsythia ovata: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Forsythia ovata Cultural Conditions

Forsythia ovata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Forsythia ovata: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Forsythia ovata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Forsythia ovata: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Forsythia ovata: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Forsythia ovata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Forsythia ovata: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Forsythia ovata Flowers

Forsythia ovata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Forsythia ovata: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Forsythia ovata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Forsythia ovata: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Forsythia ovata Leaves

Forsythia ovata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Forsythia ovata: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Forsythia ovata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Forsythia ovata: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Forsythia ovata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Forsythia ovata: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Forsythia ovata Stem

Forsythia ovata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Forsythia ovata Landscape

Forsythia ovata: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Forsythia ovata: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Forsythia ovata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland