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The Dwarf Forsythia (‘Arnold Dwarf’) is a member of the olive family. It is named for the British botanist, William Forsyth. This is a deciduous shrub, with a dense, smooth-topped form. The Dwarf Forsythia is especially treasured for its early spring blooms, although, the flowers produced on Dwarf Forsythias are sparse, in comparison to its larger counterpart.
The shrub blooms from March through April, with sunny yellow flowers that look like a circle of spun gold. The bright yellow foliage of spring evolves into a bronze-purple hue in the autumn.
This type of forsythia usually matures at about 3 feet in height, with a spread of 4 feet. These shrubs are tough; they thrive in clay or in common garden soil and tolerate extremes of climate well. Dwarf Forsythias flourish in zones 5-9 with a medium amount of water, and appreciate being well-drained. They are very adaptable to both dry and damp venues and should do just fine under typical garden conditions.
The Forsythia grows best on a site that has full sun, but it also does well in partial shade. The shrub grows fast and usually matures at about 3 feet in height.
Dwarf Forsythias are not particular about soil type or pH, and they handle environmental salt quite well. This shrub grows rapidly and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Very little pruning is needed.
Dwarf Forsythias are compact, with a mounded form and multiple stems. These are low-care plants and should only be pruned after it blooming to prevent the destruction of flowers from the current season.
Shrubs are versatile garden performers. Deciduous shrubs impart the ambience of seasonal change, and due to the many choices of heights available, provide possibilities for bridging and spacing.
The Dwarf Forsythias are ideal for smaller modern environments. The bright green and yellow features add much decorative value to an early spring garden. With glossy, pointed leaves and brick red stems, Dwarf Forsythias provide excellent flowers for cutting. In addition, these shrubs make great borders for perennial plants. You can also sow dwarf forsythias as groundcover or for low fencing, and they can be used as slope covering to prevent erosion.
The Dwarf Forsythia is a compact, vigorous, low spreading shrub that is often grown as a groundcover or a border shrub. They are preferred because they are low growing as well as have showy flowers which makes them a favorite. They prefer medium, well drained moisture with partial shade and full sun. The plants generally grow between 2 and 3 feet tall but can spread to 7 feet or more. The broad, wide yellow golden flowers show themselves in early spring before other plants which make many people excited because they know spring is right around the corner. The Dwarf Forsythia’s flowers will appear way before their foliage does. The blooms are gorgeous but not as prominent as on larger, taller forsythias. Flowers on some dwarf forsythias may not appear until the 4th or 5th year. The leaves are light green and oval shaped which can grow to around 2 ½” long and have serrated edges. The branches grow with an arch and can root anywhere that they touch the ground.
The common name for the Dwarf Forsythia is the “Forsythia” which is classified as a deciduous shrub and is in the family with Oleaceae. It grows well in climate zones 5 to 8 and can bloom from March to April with foliage to follow. They prefer full sun or partial shade and need medium water to grow at full maturity. The Dwarf Forsythia is an easy grower and recommended for beginners because they require little maintenance to take care of. They can grow well in clay, loamy, rocky, dry soil and are resistant to deer. The Dwarf Forsythia is easy to take care of and can tolerate drought like conditions but prefer water on a regular basis. They are often used as border plants, accent pieces, hedges or to flow over retaining walls. Dwarf Forsythia are a multi-purpose plant because they have many uses, they can not only be planted outdoors but they can also be planted in containers and pots which can be used on decks and patios.
There are many different varieties of forsythias such as Arnold Dwarf, Goldilocks, Mini gold and Starlet which all only grow to around 36 inches high. Forsythias are known for their color and size because they can be grown and pruned to almost any size you wish.
Pruning forsythias are relatively easy to do. Once the flowers start to fade away in color this will show you that they are ready to be pruned down. The branches and stems can start being cut down shorter to promote new growth the following year. If your forsythia is left untouched and not groomed they can easily get out of hand, but many homeowners plant them in a large natural area or open space and choose not to groom them because that is the look that they are going for.
Dwarf forsythias and other varieties of forsythias can easily be transplanted and you can easily grow one hardy one and turn it into two by propagating it yourself. Once you see a limb or branch with a lot of blooms you can cut it off and bring it indoors and place it into a cup or container of water. Once you see the roots form and the stem is around 4-6 inches you can transplant it into a container and then transplant it into the ground when you are ready.
Forsythias of all kinds are a great plant variety to have around your home. They can make any dull area into a lively area in no time with their fast growing capabilities.