Creamy white flowers, lightly scented of almonds and much loved by foraging bees, open at the end of winter, towards late winter and early spring. White forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum) is a Korean shrub of 3 to 6 ½ feet, ideal for low-lying hedges; plant it in full sun rather than shade and it flowers far more freely.
| Name | Abeliophyllum distichum |
|---|---|
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Type | shrubby bush |
| Height | 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun and part sun |
| Soil | ordinary, not too chalky |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Flowering | spring |
| Hardiness | −50 °F (−46 °C) |
Even though it bears the same name as yellow forsythia, it isn’t the same species. Flowers are nearly identical, and it brings a touch of creamy white to your garden, balcony or terrace.
This shrub is best planted right at the beginning of fall or in spring, but avoid at all costs days of freezing or very hot weather.
Even though it is reputed to be hardy (it resists to the coldest temperatures in Western Europe), root development will be at its best and settling in will be optimized.
It is also possible to grow white forsythia in a pot on a terrace or balcony, but provide for repotting every 2 or 3 years.
The same shrub can be used in three quite different ways. Match the situation to the space you have and to the upkeep you are happy to give.
| Planting situation | Why it works | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone, group or flower bed | The early bloom stands out on its own or repeated in a bed | Flowering is poorer in shade than in full sun |
| Low-lying or flowered hedge | Small size, 3 to 6 ½ feet, suits a low screen | Prune yearly in early spring, keeping the shape appealing |
| Pot on a terrace or balcony | Brings creamy white flowers close to the house | Use shrub or flowered plant soil mix and repot every 2 or 3 years |
Whichever situation you choose, plant at the beginning of fall or in spring, avoiding freezing or very hot weather.
Korean white forsythia doesn’t really suffer from pruning and even should be pruned yearly in early spring to bloom better year after year.
Cut it back as much as you wish, trying to keep the shape as appealing as you can.
Native to Korea, white forsythia offers magnificent blooming at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, towards late winter to early spring.
The fragrance of its flowers has a light touch of almonds, and is particularly pleasing to bees who love pollinating them.
The flowers are rather short-lived, but they are simply remarkable, and their early blooming is like a preview of your magnificent gardens-to-be…
Its small size makes it the ideal shrub for low-lying hedges.
White forsythia is often planted as a standalone, but also appears in groups, flower beds or flowered hedges.
Read also:
In winter, mulch can be spread around the base of your white forsythia to protect roots from the cold, avoid weed growth and provide soil with the organic matter it needs.
It also brings blooming forward by a few days.
