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Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Shrub · Oleaceae family

Border forsythia

Forsythia × intermedia

Full sun to part shade in a garden 6 ft 6¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in × 6 ft 6¾ in–11 ft 5¾ in Flowers March–April to −84 °F
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years6 ft 6¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in
in the wild up to 9 ft 10⅛ in
spacing 9 ft 10⅛ in
FlowersMarch–April
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
averagenot fussy about soil

Watering

drought tolerant once establishedless when it rains

Frost

−84 °F
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

3 ft 3⅜ in6 ft 6¾ in9 ft 10⅛ in7 ft 10½ in–9 ft 10⅛ inspread 9 ft 10⅛ in–13 ft 1½ in
7 ft 10½ in–9 ft 10⅛ in× spread 9 ft 10⅛ in–13 ft 1½ in

Plant 9 ft 10⅛ in apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–April · yellow

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

What to plant now (October) full list in October (243) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 0.13 oz/sq ft a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level
Honey fungus

Honey fungus

Armillaria
High riskdisease
More about this problem

What you will see

Root rot and dieback of the shrub; white fungal sheets under the bark at the base.

The source says: it is among the plants particularly susceptible to honey fungus.

When to look

Mushrooms in late summer and fall; mycelium in the soil all year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not plant in places with honey fungus
    • remove infected shrubs together with the roots
  2. By hand when presentdig out the infected shrub with its roots
Honey fungusdisease · mushrooms in late summer and fall; mycelium in the soil all yearHigh risk

What you will see

Root rot and dieback of the shrub; white fungal sheets under the bark at the base.

The source says: it is among the plants particularly susceptible to honey fungus.

When to look

Mushrooms in late summer and fall; mycelium in the soil all year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not plant in places with honey fungus
    • remove infected shrubs together with the roots
  2. By hand when presentdig out the infected shrub with its roots
More about this problem
Sources (2)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does border forsythia flower?

In March–April; the flowers are yellow.

Does border forsythia tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does border forsythia need?

At maturity 9 ft 10⅛ in–13 ft 1½ in wide and 7 ft 10½ in–9 ft 10⅛ in tall; recommended spacing 9 ft 10⅛ in.

Honey fungus — what can you do?

do not plant in places with honey fungus dig out the infected shrub with its roots

Sources (18) Checked 24 October 2026

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