Bronx forsythia is a deciduous, dwarf, perennial shrub. Bronx forsythia was selected in 1939 from seedlings grown at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. This cultivar is tolerant of a wide range of soil and environmental conditions. Growing in full sun will produce the most blooms. Bronx forsythia is a 1-to-2-foot dwarf with a flat, low-growing, spreading habit that makes this plant an excellent choice as a groundcover. This small plant can be used in borders and as groundcovers in Asian, children’s, cottage and winter gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Although generally deer resistant, this plant is occasionally damaged by deer. Diseases affecting this plant include crown gall, leaf spot, and cankers. More information on Forsythia viridissima .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Opposite, simple, 3/4 to 1 3/4 inch, bright green leaves. The margins are toothed above the base. Green to yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Bright yellow flowers appear in clusters along the stems. Flowers are deeply four-lobed with petals joined only at the base. These become pendent in rainy weather shielding the reproductive parts.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The brown capsules are sparse.
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
The bark is a tan-yellow color with prominent lenticels.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
A square-stemmed, multistemmed plant. Pith lamellate throughout, including nodes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China and Korea
Distribution
Canada, Eastern United States south to North Carolina and west to Tennessee.
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Slope/Bank; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Cottage Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#deciduous #deer resistant #black walnut toxicity tolerant #deciduous shrub #showy flowers #drought tolerant #salt spray tolerant #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Compaction; Deer; Drought; Poor Soil; Salt; Urban Conditions