Forsythia intermedia Minigold

The Forsythia Minigold (Flojor) is a recent hybrid variety. An easy-to-grow plant that will undoubtedly find its place in all gardens, even the smallest ones. The shrub, low and compact, has a graceful habit with generous golden yellow flowering in early spring. Its foliage, singularly marbled and veined with pale yellow, appears after flowering, on reddish-brown branches. So many good reasons to adopt it without delay!

The Forsythia x intermedia Minigold is a charming small deciduous bush belonging to the oleaceae family. It descends from a hybrid from two species native to China, Forsythia suspensa and Forsythia viridissima. It will reach an average of 1m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions, showing a rounded dense bushy habit. Like other forsythias, it provides a true spring spectacle in March, literally covering its bare branches with many small bell-shaped flowers with bright golden yellow petals and stamens. The flowering is followed by the appearance of deciduous foliage. The leaves of this variety are of a rather unusual chartreuse green color when they first appear. They unfold into long pointed leaves measuring 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) long, with very dentate edges. The lamina, a shiny dark green, is marbled and veined with tender green-yellow, especially in the center. The foliage sometimes takes on beautiful yellow to red-orange hues in autumn before falling.

The Forsythia Minigold is perfectly hardy and very easy to maintain, it grows in all types of soil and under most climates. This variety is ideal for small spaces such as rockeries, mass borders or small gardens. It also grows very well in pots, given its moderate size. It can be planted alone or in the company of Japanese quinces, Japanese spireas, compact Cotinus (Cotinus coggygria Lilla) or even with mahonias or mock oranges. It can be planted as a low, flowering hedge, as its branches are quite low. In early December, cut a branch or two and put them in a vase, they will bloom for Christmas.