Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Oleaceae

Genus:

Forsythia

Species:

Forsythia viridissima

USDA Symbol:

FOVI

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

mar,apr

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow-green

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to rocky hillsides and open woods

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Fresh seed may germinate without treatment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI