Forsythia × intermedia
Encyclopedia
Forsythia × intermedia (Border Forsythia)is an ornamental deciduous shrub
of garden origin.
. A plant of seedling origin was discovered growing in the Göttingen Botanic Gardens
in Germany by the director of the municipal gardens in Münden, H. Zabel in 1878. Zabel formally described and named the hybrid in Gartenflora in 1885. It was introduced to the Arnold Arboretum in the United States in 1889.
s, it is one of the earliest or even the earliest shrub to bloom
in humid continental climate
, well adapted to temperature changes, blooms with bright yellow flowers, that are noticeable even in twilight
. This makes forsythias widely cultivated in gardens, parks and various green parts of European towns, with Forsythia x intermedia hybrid being the most popular among forsythias.
Cultivar
s include:
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
of garden origin.
Description
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 usually pale-yellow flowers are produced on one- to two-year-old growth and may be solitary or in racemes from 2 to 6.Origin
The hybrid is thought to be a cross between Forsythia viridissima and F. suspensa var.fortuneiForsythia suspensa
Forsythia suspensa is a flowering plant native to Asia. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. Pinoresinol is a lignan found in F. suspensa.-Characteristics:...
. A plant of seedling origin was discovered growing in the Göttingen Botanic Gardens
Alte Botanische Garten der Universität Göttingen
The Old Botanical Garden of Göttingen University , with an area of 4.5 hectares, is an historic botanical garden maintained by the University of Göttingen...
in Germany by the director of the municipal gardens in Münden, H. Zabel in 1878. Zabel formally described and named the hybrid in Gartenflora in 1885. It was introduced to the Arnold Arboretum in the United States in 1889.
Cultivation
The hybrid is best suited to a position with full sun or partial shade and is drought-tolerant. Like some other forsythiaForsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae . There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. The common name is also Forsythia; the genus is named after William Forsyth.-Growth:They are deciduous shrubs typically growing to a...
s, it is one of the earliest or even the earliest shrub to bloom
Bloom
Bloom or blooming may refer to:-Science and nature:* Bloom, one or more flowers on a flowering plant* Algal bloom, a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system...
in humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, well adapted to temperature changes, blooms with bright yellow flowers, that are noticeable even in twilight
Twilight
Twilight is the time between dawn and sunrise or between sunset and dusk, during which sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the earth is neither completely lit nor completely dark. The sun itself is not directly visible because it is below...
. This makes forsythias widely cultivated in gardens, parks and various green parts of European towns, with Forsythia x intermedia hybrid being the most popular among forsythias.
Cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s include:
- 'Arnold Dwarf' - low-growing with pale yellow flowers
- 'Beatrix Farrand' - a particularly floriferous cultivar
- 'Gold Tide' ('Courtasol') - floriferous, with deep yellow autumn colour
- 'Lynwood' - large flowers with broad petals
- 'Karl SaxKarl SaxKarl Sax was an American botanist and geneticist, in particular he was noted for his research in cytogenetics and the effect of radiation on chromosomes....
' - deep yellow flowers with orange lines in the thoat. Introduced by the Arnold Arboretum in 1960. - 'Spectabilis'
- 'Spring Glory' - purple-tinged foliage in autumn
- 'Variegata' - leaves with contrasting cream edges