WHITE FORSYTHIA TO HASTEN SPRING BLOOMS

Graceful and elegant white forsythia in bloom.

Abeliophyllum distichum, known as "white forsythia" is not a true forsythia but displays a similar blooming habit...however, about 2 weeks before yellow forsythia announces the arrival of Spring.

The Green Man encourages the incorporation of white forsythia into clients' landscaping mix for several reasons: First, the blooms of white forsythia supply hope to the human spirit at the end of a long and tiring Winter. Second, the shrub provides classic and elegant white in the landscape color pallete. Third, white forsythia is fragrant and easily forced into bloom indoors in the waning days of Winter. Forth, white forsythia stays a manageable size, maxing out at 3' x 5'. Finally, becasue white forsythia is underused and highly-desirable at the onset of early Spring, the shrub adds equity to your landscaping investment.


"There is only one species in this Korean genus, which belongs to the same family as the common Forsythia, but there is nothing common about this plant. A. distichum is an open, spreading shrub that grows to 3-5ft and produces an abundance of delightfully fragrant, pure white, star-shaped flowers at the very beginning of spring, at least two weeks before Forsythia.

The blooms are followed by foliage of a cool bluish green. Branches cut in late winter are easily forced into bloom, and the perfume is much more pronounced indoors. Grow in full sun or partial shade and average soil, and underplant with early-flowering spring bulbs such as Scilla and Muscari."

www.whiteflowerfarm.com