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Forsythia medium adorns the gardens and squares of European cities. Its rapid flowering indicates the arrival of spring. The shrub blooms earlier than other plants. Forsythia has been in culture for a long time. From China, the first specimens were brought to Europe by the Scot Forsythe, a botanist and head gardener at Kensington Palace.
The winter hardiness of the shrub allows it to be grown in the conditions of the winter. This decorative culture is very popular in the Moscow region.
Description of forsythia medium
Forsythia medium (intermediate) – a form obtained by hybridization. In the work, German breeders used the genetic material of 2 types of forsythia:
- drooping;
- dark green.
The form has been adapted in regions with a temperate climate. It is distinguished from other varieties of forsythia by frost and drought resistance. A variety of forsythia intermediate (middle) appeared at the end of the XNUMXth century. Now gardeners are offered many varieties of ornamental shrubs of this species.
The bell-shaped flowers of forsythia medium are clearly visible in the photo. They have 4 brightly colored petals. The color of few-flowered inflorescences is different, delicate lemon-yellow in some varieties, dark orange in others. In most varieties of medium forsythia, flowering occurs on annual shoots.
The height of deciduous shrubs depends on the variety (2-3 m). The shape of the crown is spreading. It is formed by shoots of 2 types:
- upright;
- arched (drooping).
The branches are covered with light golden-yellow bark, young shoots with a greenish tint. The shrub is covered with foliage immediately after flowering, which occurs in the spring months (April, May). It continues for about 20 days.
In summer, large (5-12 cm) leaves are painted in a juicy green color, in autumn the spreading crown of shrubs pleases the eye with a bright crimson, yellow, purple color. The shape of the leaves is simple, lanceolate-ovate, the edge is serrate-toothed.
Forsythia medium in landscape design
The shrub is planted in the garden in a conspicuous place. When properly planted, an ornamental plant becomes a highlight of the garden. In spring, blooming forsythia is very spectacular against the backdrop of coniferous trees. In autumn, shrubs do not lose their decorative effect, they attract the eye with crimson, yellow or purple foliage.
In country houses, single medium forsythia bushes are planted next to the porch or gate of the garden. In group plantings, it is combined with conifers, perennials, roses, lilacs.
Forsythia bushes tolerate pruning well, so they are used to create hedges.
A beautiful flowering shrub is planted in city parks and squares. It looks good on the banks of the reservoirs.
Varieties of forsythia medium
Because of the abundant flowering, forsythia is called the “golden lilac” or “golden rain”. In Our Country, several types of ornamental shrubs are common:
- ovoid;
- hanging;
- European;
- average.
Varieties of the latter variety are more adapted to cold climates, the most famous are:
- Minigold − Little gold;
- Beatrix Farrand;
- gold rush.
Especially popular with gardeners is the forsythia medium variety Maree d`or courtasol. This is a dwarf shrub with creeping shoots, with its help they decorate gentle slopes, form picturesque hedges.
Forsythia medium Minigold
This is the smallest variety of medium forsythia. The height of adult Minigold bushes does not exceed 1-1,5 m. Most often, the length of the shoots is only 0,6-0,8 m. The crown is compact, dense, up to 1,5 m in diameter.
Plant of medium vigor. During the season, the growth of branches is no more than 10 cm. The branches are brittle, erect. The leaves are dark green with light veins, simple. The shape is ovoid or ovate-lanceolate. In autumn they change color, becoming yellowish-green with red-burgundy patches.
Forsythia Minigold is a winter-hardy plant. The flowering period is April-May. The flowers are small, numerous, appear before bud break. Flowering continues from 20 to 25 days. The shrub can grow in any garden soil. Does not like dry soil. Bushes for abundant flowering require pruning.
Forsythia medium Beatrix Farrand
Deciduous shrub with a height of 3 to 4 m. The annual growth of shoots is 30-40 cm. The diameter of the crown of an adult plant is about 3 m. The density of the crown is medium. During the growing season, the branches are covered with oval-pointed, finely toothed leaves. Summer foliage color is light green, autumn – bronze or yellow-green.
Leaves appear after flowering. It falls in April, May, in warm regions – at the end of March. Bushes in the spring are very decorative. The shoots are strewn with large, bright, canary-yellow flowers. Orange stripes are visible at the base of the petals.
The bush loves:
- moist, well-drained soil;
- good lighting;
- warm, no drafts.
In winter, without shelter, it can freeze slightly. Before the onset of frost, the branches are bent to the ground. To protect against low temperatures, they are thrown with dry leaves and spruce branches. Forsythia tolerates a haircut well. For regular, abundant flowering, all faded shoots are shortened annually by ½ length.
Forsythia medium Goldrauch
Spectacular forsythia bushes of the middle Goldrash grow up to 2,5 m in height. Upright, sprawling branches form an obovate crown with a diameter of up to 2 m. Separate shoots of a drooping type.
The flowers are bright, yellow, 2-3 cm in diameter, collected in large inflorescences up to 6 cm in size. Abundant flowering occurs in the spring months (April, May). It lasts about 2 weeks. At its end, the branches are covered with dark green leaves of a simple oval-lanceolate shape. The length of the sheet plate is 8 cm.
The shrub grows well in the city. It has an average winter hardiness. In especially severe winters, flower buds and shoots that are above the snow level freeze slightly. So that every spring you can admire the wonderful flowering, the Goldrush middle forsythia is recommended to be planted in places protected from the cold north wind.
This variety is unpretentious. An ornamental shrub can grow on loose permeable loams, tolerates shade, partial shade, is responsive to organic and mineral top dressing, and tolerates pruning well.
Planting and caring for forsythia yellow medium
Forsythia yellow is propagated by cuttings, layering, seeds. 1-2 year old seedling in a container, available at a gardening store. Plants with a closed root system can be planted in the garden at any time (spring, summer, autumn).
When planting, the dimensions of the future bush are taken into account: height, crown diameter. The site should be illuminated by the sun for 6 hours, the forsythia tolerates a shadow, but the bush loses its decorative effect with a lack of light.
The composition of the soil does not play a big role, but if the pH is < 5,5, it is worth adding ash to it when digging. Seedlings are planted in pits measuring 0,5 x 0,5 x 0,6 m. The root after planting should be at a depth of 30-40 cm. Drainage 10 cm thick (crushed stone, brick battle) is poured onto the bottom.
For backfilling, prepare a mixture, take:
- sand (1 part);
- leaf ground (2 parts);
- peat (1 part);
- ash (200 g).
When planting several shrubs, pits are dug at a distance of 1,5-2 m. The seedlings are watered. When planting in autumn, prepare for winter:
- mulch the trunk circle with bark, peat, leaves;
- shoots are bent to the ground, pinned;
- at sub-zero temperatures, cover with lutrasil.
Care comes down to watering, fertilizing, pruning. Water only when the top layer of soil (5 cm) is dry. Top dressing is carried out with mineral fertilizers in the spring before flowering and with Kemira Universal after the shrub has finished blooming.
Forsythia responds well to organic matter (humus, compost), it is used as a mulch. Fall asleep near the trunk circle in spring or autumn. The first 2 years after planting, only sanitary pruning is carried out. Cut out damaged shoots.
Starting from the 3rd year, they work with the crown in the summer:
- shorten faded shoots by ½;
- old branches are cut at a height of 5-6 cm from the ground, then young shoots will come from them.
Anti-aging pruning is carried out approximately once every 4 years. It is aimed at enhancing the growth of young shoots and preserving the decorative effect. The branches of old bushes are shortened by ⅔ of the length. Depending on the style of the garden, the forsythia crown can be shaped into a cube, ball, or bowl.
Plants can suffer from infection and pest infestation. From fungal diseases, wilting bushes are sprayed with fungicides. With bacteriosis, the diseased plant is uprooted, the earth is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
In summer, plant leaves can suffer from nematodes. Then the top layer of soil around the bush is removed. The soil is treated with a solution of “Carbation”. In the event of an aphid invasion, the leaves are sprayed with soapy water.
Wintering forsythia in the Moscow region
Forsythia medium Minigold can survive wintering in the Moscow region without shelter. But experienced gardeners advise warming bushes, especially young ones. Before the frosts, the plants are watered, the fallen leaves are removed, the soil is loosened and sprinkled with a layer of peat.
The shoots are carefully bent to the ground, fastened with a vine (staples). From above, the bushes are covered with spruce branches, straw, covered with purchased covering material. In winter, snow is piled on the bushes. If the snow blows away in winter, they build a shelter from wooden shields or set up arcs, and pull 2-3 layers of lutrasil.
Conclusion
Forsythia medium blooms profusely in gardens, if the bushes are covered for the winter. Despite winter hardiness, the threat of freezing of flower buds exists. It is worth spending a little time preparing for winter, so that in spring the shrub decorates the garden with abundant flowering.
In the video, a garden expert tells in an accessible way how to properly care for a flowering plant in the middle lane:
