Forsythia viridissima: Country Or Region Of Origin
South China and South Korea
Plant Profile: Forsythia viridissima
Taxonomy: Forsythia viridissimaNames
Easter tree, Greenstem Forsythia
Phonetic Spelling:for-SYE-thee-uh vir-i-dis'si-ma
Genus:Forsythia
Species:viridissima
Family:Oleaceae
Greenstem Forsythia is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Oleaceae family, originally from Asia. Renowned for its vibrant yellow blooms that herald the arrival of spring, this plant can reach heights and widths of up to 10 feet, featuring gracefully arching branches. After flowering, it responds well to pruning and can even be cut back to ground level for rejuvenation.
For optimal blooming, it thrives in average garden soil and requires full sunlight, although it is adaptable to various soil types. This versatile shrub is ideal for use in borders, as an accent, or in foundation plantings.
For further details on Forsythia, please refer to additional resources.
Forsythia viridissima Feature Summary
Forsythia viridissima Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#deer resistant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
Similar Plants
Forsythia viridissima Feature Summary
Attributes
South China and South Korea
Drought tolerant.
Woody
Fruit
The fruit is a dry capsule, containing several winged seeds.
Capsule
Flowers
Early spring 4-lobed yellow flowers up to 1 inch wide.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Opposite, simple, medium to dark green leaves 2-4 inches long and tapers at both ends with teeth above the middle. Purple tinged in fall.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Opposite
Lanceolate
Entire
Serrate
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Bark
Rough grey-brown bark
Light Gray
Light Brown
Stem
Square stems with prominent lenticels
Square
Conspicuous
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Deciduous
Arching
Erect
Dense
Medium
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)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Salt
Black Walnut
Forsythia viridissima Image Gallery
Forsythia viridissima Attributes
Forsythia viridissima: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Drought tolerant.
Forsythia viridissima: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Forsythia viridissima Fruit
Forsythia viridissima: Fruit Description
The fruit is a dry capsule, containing several winged seeds.
Forsythia viridissima: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Forsythia viridissima Flowers
Forsythia viridissima: Flower Description
Early spring 4-lobed yellow flowers up to 1 inch wide.
Forsythia viridissima: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Forsythia viridissima: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Forsythia viridissima: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Forsythia viridissima Leaves
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Description
Opposite, simple, medium to dark green leaves 2-4 inches long and tapers at both ends with teeth above the middle. Purple tinged in fall.
Forsythia viridissima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Color
Green
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Forsythia viridissima: 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 viridissima: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Forsythia viridissima: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Forsythia viridissima: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Forsythia viridissima Bark
Forsythia viridissima: Bark Description
Rough grey-brown bark
Forsythia viridissima: Bark Color
Light Brown
Light Gray
Forsythia viridissima Stem
Forsythia viridissima: Stem Description
Square stems with prominent lenticels
Forsythia viridissima: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Forsythia viridissima: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Forsythia viridissima: Stem Lenticels
Conspicuous
Not Conspicuous
Forsythia viridissima Whole Plant Traits
Forsythia viridissima: 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 viridissima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Forsythia viridissima: 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 viridissima: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Forsythia viridissima Cultural Conditions
Forsythia viridissima: 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 viridissima: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Forsythia viridissima: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Forsythia viridissima: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Forsythia viridissima: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Forsythia viridissima: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Forsythia viridissima Landscape
Forsythia viridissima: 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 viridissima: 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 viridissima: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
