Forsythia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Forsythia (lat. Forsythia) or forsythia is a genus of flowering ornamental shrubs of the Olive family. In the wild, forsythia is found in Southeast Europe and East Asia.

Characteristics of culture

Forsythia is an early flowering deciduous shrub with a height of 1 to 3 m, rarely up to 6 m. The bark is rather coarse, gray-brown in color. Leaves are bright green, opposite, simple, sometimes trifoliate, have no stipules, oval or oblong, serrated edges, pointed tips. Leaves appear later than flowers, retain their fresh color for a long time.

The flowers are bright yellow or bright orange, bell-shaped, single or collected in small inflorescences of 2-6 pieces, 2.5-3 cm in diameter. The calyx is four-lobed. Corolla with spice, consists of four lobes. Flowering takes place in April - May, lasts an average of 20-25 days. The fruit is a two-celled capsule with numerous lionfish seeds.

Growing conditions

Forsythia is a light-loving culture; it grows well in sunny areas, protected from strong winds. Easily tolerates partial shade. Forsythia prefers well-drained, moderately moist, fertile soils with a neutral pH reaction. The optimum growing temperature is 20-25C.

Reproduction and planting

Forsythia is propagated by seeds, cuttings or layering. Sowing the seed is carried out in early spring or autumn under a shelter in the form of peat or sawdust. Seeds need preliminary stratification. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place after 3-4 years. Reproduction by layering is the most effective and common way. To do this, the falling branches of forsythia are bent to the surface of the earth, fixed on both sides, the bark is incised at the point of contact of the shoot with the soil and sprinkled with a layer of 10-15 cm. In the spring, the rooted layers are separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.

The culture is also propagated by green and lignified cuttings. Cuttings are cut at the beginning of June, they are kept in a solution of the growth stimulator "Kornevin", then planted in the soil and covered with foil. By autumn, the cuttings take root. For the winter, the soil of young plants is mulched with peat or dry foliage.

Forsythia seedlings are planted in the fall. Planting holes are prepared in advance, its depth should be about 70-80 cm, and width 60-70 cm. The distance between plants should be at least 1-3 m, depending on the variety. 1/4 of the planting holes are filled with a drainage layer (broken brick or crushed stone), soil substrate (humus, garden soil and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 2) is poured, then the seedling is lowered, straightening the roots, and sprinkled with the remaining mixture. After planting, the plants are abundantly watered and mulched with peat.

Care

Forsythia is quite demanding on fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers. The first feeding is done in early spring, the second - after flowering, the third - in late autumn. The culture also needs sanitary and shaping pruning, weeding and loosening. In dry weather, watering is desirable. For the winter, the plants are covered with spruce branches or other material, and the trunks are mulched. Forsythia is resistant to pests and pests; it is rarely affected by bacteriosis and nematodes. In the first case, the shrubs must be destroyed, in the second, the soil must be disinfected with carbation.

Application

Forsythia is a highly ornamental plant that will perfectly fit into gardens in any stylistic direction. Forsythias look spectacular in single and group plantings, ideal for creating hedges. The culture is combined with other deciduous and coniferous shrubs and trees. Weeping forsythia is used in folk medicine. Some cultures go into making bows for stringed instruments.