Often called the harbinger of spring, forsythia blooms in bright yellow flowers before its leaves emerge. This creates impressive golden dots in landscapes that break up the gloomy, snowy ground with the promise of what is to come.
Forsythia is the common and generic name for a group of deciduous flowering shrubs in the Oleaceae family (olive). The 11 or thereabout species[1] are native to eastern Asia, with just one species native to Europe.
Forsythia is a robust, fast-growing deciduous shrub with opposite leaves and rough grayish-brown bark. Depending on the species, they can reach a height of 8 to 10 feet and 10 to 12 feet wide and have gracefully erect or arched branches.
The blooms are produced in early spring, before the leaves appear, for a welcoming show of vibrant yellow flowers.
The bell-shaped blooms are produced in small groups or clusters along the stems. Each bloom has 4 petals that are only connected at the base.
