Forsythia viridissima
| Forsythia viridissima | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 8' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Forsythia viridissima (common name: golden bells)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates within 2 months[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 15cm taken at a node, July/August in a frame. Plant out in autumn or spring. A very high percentage, they root within 3 weeks[1].
Cuttings of mature wood in a sheltered outdoor bed. Good percentage[1].
Layering in spring or summer. Plants often self-layer[K].
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in all soil types[2] but prefers a rich soil. Succeeds in limey soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. It prefers a sunny position but succeeds in semi shade though it is apt to get leggy if grown in the shade of trees[3]. Succeeds against a north-facing wall[4].
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[5]. Plants are medium to fast growing[2].
Flowers are produced on wood that is more than one year old[2]. Any pruning is best done immediately after the plant has finished flowering[3][6].
There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[7][6].
This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].
Range: E. Asia - China.
Habitat: Ravines, margin of woods near river valleys and streamsides[8].
Medicinal: The fruit is antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmdic and emmenagogue[9]. It is used in Korea to treat carbuncles, mastitis, inflammation, suppuration, lymphadenitis and suppressed menstruation[9].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Late Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: Leaves contain the glycoside Phillyrin[10], its potency is unknown.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.