Forsythia viridissima Lindl.

Green Stem Forsythia; Golden Bells

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Green Stem Forsythia is an introduced deciduous shrub in the Olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to China. Green Stem Forsythia is often cultivated and has been collected as an escape in scattered areas across Alabama. It occurs on roadside banks, along fence rows, and at old home sites. It is a medium sized shrub with arching stems. The stems will root when in contact with the soil, forming thickets. The branches are glabrous, four-angled, and with lamellate pith. The young shoots are green in color. Older branches have thin gray bark with conspicuously raised corky bumps. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate in outline, glabrous, and with serrate margins. Bright yellow heterosylous flowers are produced in fascicles of 1-4 flowers from the old leaf axils and appear before the leaves. The individual flowers are on short pedicels. The persistent calyx is deeply 4-lobed. The lobes are ovate or elliptic in outline and ciliate. The corolla is campanulate with 4 lobes that are longer than the tube. Each flower has 2 stamens, a slender style, and a 2-cleft stigma. The fruit is a capsule. Green Stem Forsythia is a “hand me down” plant, often shared with friends. It is easy to grow and tolerates poor soils, urban conditions, and drought. It grows vigorously, and needs to be pruned to maintain it under control. Pruning should occur immediately after flowering as new flower buds form on stems that are at least a year old. Older plants can be cut to ground level to rejuvenate them. It is easily propagated from cuttings or rooted suckers. Green Stem Forsythia can be used as a border or foundation plant or as an accent specimen with other spring flowering shrubs such as Azaleas, Bridle-wreaths, and Camellias.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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