Border Forsythia

The shrub has an upright habit with arching branches and grows to 3 to 4 metres high. The opposite leaves turn yellowish or occasionally purplish in the autumn before falling. The bright yellow flowers are produced on one- to two-year-old growth and may be solitary or in racemes from 2 to 6.

The hybrid is best suited to a position in full sun or partial shade and is drought-tolerant. Like some other forsythias it is one of the earliest shrubs to flower. Well adapted to temperature changes, it blooms with bright yellow flowers that are noticeable even in twilight. It is one of several forsythia species that are widely cultivated in gardens and parks.

Cultivars. Cultivars include (those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit):

'Arnold Dwarf' – low-growing with pale yellow flowers 'Beatrix Farrand' – a particularly floriferous cultivar 'Gold Tide' ('Courtasol') – floriferous, with deep yellow autumn colour 'Karl Sax' – deep yellow flowers with orange lines in the throat. Introduced by the Arnold Arboretum in 1960. 'Lynwood' – large flowers with broad petals 'Lynwood Variety'agm 'Spectabilis' 'Spring Glory' – purple-tinged foliage in autumn 'Variegata' – leaves with contrasting cream edges Week End='Courtalyn'agm