Can anyone tell me what kind of plant this is? Its woody stems make me think it's a shrub, and I'd love to grow one. That vibrant yellow is breathtaking and I can SO envision that in my front garden! Here's a closer view of the flower part if that helps. Anyone?
That is forsythia, a shrub. Very hardy, easy to grow, but blossoms only once a year. You can take cuttings in very early spring when the shrub is just beginning to bud, set it inside in water, and "force" it to bloom. Very consoling in a cold winter! You should be able to find a forsythia at almost any garden shop.
In the springtime almost everyone has a yellow Forsythia bush in their yard. They are easy to root in water or in the ground. Jerry
My one is just beginning to come into bud now. I always know when the frosts are over when I see my Forsythia in full flower.
Ronni, I know everyone loves their forsythia......you will be over run by this thing in no time at all. Can I say "asparagus fern" saga....similarity in growth, but imagine 100's of them....rooting in the lawn. . My MIL has one and it has gotten huge. My FIL decided to trim it back a few years ago because it had grown to about 20' wide, much to my MIL's dismay. She was upset for the next year or two. She didn't let any of us forget it. It was where the birds flitted to daily...If you decide to get one, hard pruning after it is done flowering every Spring is a must or it will overrun you in a couple of years. I, personally, will enjoy everyone else's shrub. Just as long as it isn't in my lawn.
I have starts all over the greenhouse that have had flowers and new green leaves all over them. You would think it's Spring in there.
Donna S-- great Japanese type arrangement. Or were you just rooting them? Barb--Looking good! Very healthy. If I remember rightly they are for your hidden garden, right?
Cayuga Morning, Yes, I have 1/4 acre in it's early stages and forming up well to be a hidden garden out in the top of my property. I can see it from my kitchen window. That's why I am starting so many shrubs and Azalea and things.Part will be wooded and untouched and another part will be picnic area, all being in a small woodland. That will be the first order of business when the snow goes away, next week. :-D
Cayuga, I have all my starters outside. If the one on my coffee table root, I'll plant them to. Barb, Are your starters inside in the heat? My azaleas are in the gh with heat and my forsythia is in cold frame. I read that forsythia needs cold nights and warm days to root.
Eeeeek!! **frantically runs away See, this is why I LOVE The Stew! I get such a lovely variety of perspectives. Lots of enthusiasm for the forsythia, how pretty and refreshing they are, but also a dose of caution and common sense about their rate of growth and need to aggressively contain the bush. Thanks for the info, Carolyn. Given how small my garden is, it may not be the right bush for me....at least in my front garden, which is the only part of my very large yard that has been made into a garden. The rest of the huge backyard is just lawn...well, and trees of course. Wondering though if perhaps a dash of that bright yellow color out back, where the bush CAN spread without worrying that it will overtake something else, might not be a bad thing. What are its sun requirements?
Ronni, I agree with you. The Stew is a great place for camaraderie, info, inspiration, etc. Re requirements, the more the sun the better the bloom.
That's why this is my go-to place also... varied opinions, likes and dislikes... but always presented in a friendly manner.
Cheryl is right on the mark!!!! My forsythia must be the slow growing variety because he doesn't do much I plan to prune the heck out of it this year, maybe that will help! I also plan to start some new babies off of the trimmings. The little old lady across the street from me told me to prune my roses when the forsythia is blooming-this old gal is AMAZING!! She's been gardening longer than I have been alive so I listen to what she tells me! :-o
