Deeply Rooted

Northern Gold Forsythia is one of those shrubs that is often under thought. I think it is because it puts on its biggest show of beauty at the start of the year, and everything can seem “plain” after that.

The Forsythia is native to parts of Eastern Asia. The Northern Gold was developed by Agriculture Canada and released in 1979. It has been tested and proven to be zone 3 cold tolerant which is suitable for our area. At maturity the Northern Gold Forsythia can grow as large as 10′ tall and wide but it can be maintained with a yearly pruning in mid May.

There are few shrubs in our climate that have true yellow flowers, and forsythia is at the top of the list. It’s blooms are not frost tolerant so a late frost can damage the blooms before they can open. But when the forsythia does flower it is an incredible show.

Once the Forsythia has finished flowering it’s rich green foliage sets in. Forsythia is highly disease resistant and keeps a clean lush foliage throughout the summer into fall. The fall foliage colour can depend on the year. It will typically be a golden yellow, but in a drought year (like 2020) my Forsythia in my yard turned a deep purple colour, similar to a Siberian Currant.

As a zone 3 shrub the Northern Gold forsythia will thrive if it has the right location. It has very comparable needs to the classic Little Leaf Lilac. It is not picky about soul type and is quite adaptable. It needs a well drained spot and will not do well in low wet areas. The main problem is the north/west winds which can damage the blooms in spring. The south or east side of the house is a good spot or in a sheltered corner of the yard.

Forsythia can send out “runners” across the surface of the ground, similar to large Dogwoods. If these are not trimmed the Forsythia can create a sort of thicket. My Forsythia in my front yard is nearly 20 years old and I have let it go. It has become a favourite perch for the sparrows of my yard and provides some very nice privacy due to its density.

Now I will hold my breath and watch to see how well it flowers in this mild spring.