Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

forsythia Oleaceae Forsythia spp. Vahl Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: FORSY
Leaf: Opposite, simple, ovate to oblong, coarsely serrated, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long, green above, lighter below.
Flower: Light to dark yellow, 1 to 1 1/2 inch long, bell shaped flowers, appearing in early spring.
Fruit: Dry, brown capsules, 2 cells, 1/3 inch long.
Twig: Moderate, light brown to yellow-brown, sometimes squarish, numerous lighter lenticels, pith hollow or chambered, buds small, brown, cone-shaped.
Bark: Light brown, raised lenticels, developing shallow splits.
Form: A shrub that is often shaped as a hedge; naturally develops arching stems with numerous straight root suckers.
 Looks like: winter jasmine - old fashioned weigela - beautybush - Cornelian cherry dogwood

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Additional Range Information: Forsythia spp. is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information