Greenstem forsythia is a deciduous, perennial shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae) that is native to Asia. The specific epithet means "very green.” Greenstem forsythia is easy to grow and does best in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, although plants in full sun will produce more flowers earlier in the spring. Greenstem forsythia is a forgiving plant and tolerates average to poor garden soils, urban conditions, and drought. It is widely used for its yellow flowers in early spring which provide needed relief from winter. It will grow to 10 feet tall and wide with arching stems. The flowers are produced on the long, arching, stems before the plants leaf out and the stems and flowers are often cut and brought indoors. Use in a shrub border, as an accent or foundation plantings in Asian, winter, cutting or cottage gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. More information on Forsythia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite, simple, medium to dark green leaves 4 to 6 inches long and tapers at both ends with teeth above the middle. Purple tinged in fall.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Early spring 4-lobed greenish-yellow flowers up to 1 inch wide appear before foliage in February or March and last through April or May. Flowers are deeply four-lobed with petals joined only at the base. These become pendent in rainy weather shielding the reproductive parts.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit is a dry capsule, containing several winged seeds.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Rough grey-brown bark
Stem detail
Square stems with prominent lenticels. Pith lamellate throughout, including nodes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South China and South Korea
Distribution
Canada, Eastern United States south to North Carolina and west to Tennessee.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge
Garden tags
#deciduous #deer resistant #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #perennial #pruning tolerant #deciduous shrub #yellow flowers #shrub #flowering shrub #spring flowers
Problems & Resistance
Disease problems
Southern Blight of Herbaceous Ornamentals
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Compaction; Deer; Drought; Poor Soil; Salt; Urban Conditions