Forsythia

Hybrid forsythia ( Forsythia × intermedia )

Forsythia flowers

The forsythia ( Forsythia × intermedia Zabel ), also known as garden forsythia , golden lilac or golden bells (in southern Germany rarely also perennial ), is an ornamental shrub that is often planted . It is a hybrid of two species from the genus of Forsythia . This belongs to the olive family (Oleaceae).

description

The shrub grows upright and reaches a height of three to four meters. The yellow flowers appear before the leaves shoot in spring, from March to May depending on the variety. The flower buds only form on last year's branches. The oval-elongated leaves then sprout after flowering. In autumn the leaves turn yellowish-green; seldom there is also a wine-red autumn color.

blossom

Climate change is affecting the forsythia's heyday. Forsythia bloom tends to set in earlier and earlier under the impression of advancing global warming . While forsythia in the early 1950s in northern Germany, on average, still had its flowering period in early / mid-April, this period there has now moved forward to the end of March. In the Rhineland, it will bloom as early as the end of February in 2020.

Culture

The hybrid of F. suspensa and F. viridissima is often cultivated in Central Europe. It has only been planted here since 1833.

The Lynwood variety is often planted; newer cultivars aim to keep plants smaller.

From an ecological point of view, forsythia is viewed critically, because most varieties are avoided by insects . At least the privet hawk ( Sphinx ligustri ), which is native to Central Europe, seems to have adopted forsythia as a fodder plant in the larval stage. All parts of the plant are slightly toxic.