Forsythia is a perennial grown for its yellow blooms, which open in spring and return year after year. Its spring flowers are a modest draw for honeybees.
Zones
Data not available
pH Range
5.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Forsythia on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether forsythia actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score forsythia against your land's real conditions.
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What Forsythia is
Forsythia grows as a perennial and reaches around ten feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in spring.
How to grow Forsythia
Forsythia does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days and about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data not available
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
10 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant forsythia in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Forsythia prefers pH 5.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut forsythia blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — forsythia isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Forsythia offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Forsythia thrives
Whether forsythia thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Forsythia will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether forsythia actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Forsythia in my zone?
Zone data for forsythia is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
When should you plant Forsythia?
Most growers plant forsythia after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Forsythia need?
Forsythia needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Forsythia need?
Forsythia prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Forsythia attract pollinators?
Yes — forsythia's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Forsythia safe for pets?
Forsythia is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.