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Growth Rate
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Moderate to fast. Matures at 2–3 feet tall and wide, staying compact and tidy. |
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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Yes |
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Drought Tolerant
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No |
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Deer Resistant
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No |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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Blooms are an early-season nectar source for bees. Dense branches provide light cover for small birds. |
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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Spring: Masses of golden flowers.
Summer: Compact green mound.
Fall: Yellowish foliage.
Winter: Bare but structural stems.
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Ideal For
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– Compact accent shrub for foundations, mixed borders, rock gardens, small hedges, container plantings, and spring color in limited spaces |
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Leaf Description
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Small, deciduous, bright green leaves (1–2 inches, oval-lanceolate). Foliage turns yellowish-green in fall. |
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Flower Description
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Brilliant golden-yellow, four-petaled flowers along stems in early spring, before leaves appear. Flowers are smaller than standard Forsythia but very dense and showy. |
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Planting Instructions
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Plant in early spring or fall in well-drained soil. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, set the plant level with the soil surface, backfill, and water deeply. Space plants 2–3 feet apart for groupings or hedges. Mulch around the base (2–3 inches), but keep it away from stems. |
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Pruning & Maintenance
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Prune right after flowering in late spring. Remove older stems at ground level and lightly shape the shrub. Avoid late-summer pruning, which removes next year’s buds. |
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Water Needs
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Water weekly during establishment. Once mature, it tolerates short dry periods but flowers best with consistent moisture. Needs good drainage. |
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Light Needs
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Thrives in full sun; partial shade is tolerated but reduces bloom density. |
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Harvesting
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Not grown for fruit; capsules are small and insignificant. Stems can be cut and forced indoors in late winter for early indoor bloom. |
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Fertilizing
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Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer (10-10-10) in early spring. Compost improves vigor. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which reduces flowering. |
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Pollination
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Flowers are self-sterile; cross-pollination can occur, but fruit is rare and insignificant. |
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Companion Plants
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Pairs beautifully with early bloomers like flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Magnolia stellata, or Cornus mas. Works well with evergreen structure plants like Buxus, Thuja, or Ilex, and summer/fall shrubs like Hydrangea paniculata, Spiraea japonica, or Weigela. Great for rock gardens, foundations, and low borders. |
