Forsythia

摘要

Forsythia heralds spring but can provide interest throughout the year if chosen and situated correctly, says Jim Handley. With its floriferous branches of vibrant, golden-yellow flowers appearing dutifully every year, Forsythia marks the beginning ofspring for many. Introduced in the 1840s, this deciduous shrub is a member of the Oleaceae family and was named in honour of William Forsyth, a co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. The genus includes seven species; six from East Asia and one from south-east Europe, and over 100 cultivars, but most of these are unavailable commercially. Those that are available offer far greater variety than is often realised, including dwarf cultivars suitable for containers and rockeries such as F. ovata 'Paulina', which reaches only 30-45cm in height.