Forsythia ovata 'Northern Gold' (Northern Gold Early Forsythia, Northern Gold Korean Forsythia)

Michael's Opinion

Probably the most common and heavily planted of all the spring-flowering shrubs, it is selected by many amateur gardeners for the explosion of bright yellow flowers that emerge before most other plants. It is also heavily used because of its high tolerance to pollutants and salt. Makes an acceptable border planting when left looking slightly wild; many people keep it neatly pruned, making the shrub look slightly ridiculous. Forsythias are far too common because of the flowering habit, and there are many other more desirable shrubs to alleviate the heavy overplanting, the 'Vomit of Spring'.

Botanical Information

FamilyOleaceae
GenusForsythia
Speciesovata
Cultivar'Northern Gold'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone4 - 7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone2a - 6b
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH6 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-29
Temperature (°F)-20
Height1.5 - 2.5 m
Spread1.5 -2.5 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodApril

Description and Growing Information

General Description One of the earliest flowering shrubs producing a mass of small, bright yellow flowers before leaves emerge. After blooms die, the bright, shiny leaves are somewhat attractive, commonly used as a border planting.
ID CharacteristicVery easily identified when in flower by the mass of bright yellow blooms. After the flowering period it is more bland looking and harder to identify, but a primary clue to identification would be the largely unkempt appearance.
ShapeBushy, wild looking form, stiff and spreading but tighter form than F. x intermedia
PropagationRoot softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer; or root semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or winter. Cannot be propagated by seed.
CultivationPrefers well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or light shade. Low tolerance for drought conditions; keep watered in summer. Below freezing temperatures are needed to induce flowering. Prune older wood immediately after flowering to encourage new wood growth; new wood bears more flowers than old.
PestsStem gall, dieback and leafspot, but rarely. Usually a very healthy shrub
Notable SpecimensThe A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionBark is glabrous and gray-brown, covered in small, dark lenticels.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionBuds are conical in shape and approximately 0.5 cm in length. Yellow-brown or greenish colour and often loosely scaled. Flower buds are more cold-hardy then straight species and many other cultivars.
Leaf DescriptionSimple, alternate, ovate and abruptly acuminate; either serrate or entire, glabrous and attached with a short, 1 cm petiole. 3.5 - 8.5 cm long, 3 - 6 cm wide.
Flower DescriptionPerfect flowers with 4, deeply lobed calyxes and corollas, a deep, golden shade of yellow, 3 cm long and up to 4 cm across; growing on new wood. Slender style with 2-lobed stigma, included stamens inserted at the base of the corolla.
Fruit DescriptionTwo-celled fruit with dehiscent caps containing many winged seeds. No ornamental value.
Colour DescriptionBlooms before leafing so spring colour is pure yellow. Medium to bright green in summer with an unimpressive yellow-green autumn colour.
Texture DescriptionMedium texture when in leaf, wild and unkempt winter texture.

Photographs