Yellow forsythia can be found in almost every garden - on the other hand, the white forsythia (bot. Abeliophyllum distichum), also known as snow forsythia, with its bright white flowers and the enchantingly sweet almond scent is rather rare. The easy-care shrub grows up to about two meters high and just as wide. With these dimensions, the spring bloomer is also suitable for small gardens.

Even if it looks confusingly similar, the snow forsythia is not related to the forsythia at all

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. leaves
  5. flowers and flowering time
  6. fruit
  7. toxicity
  8. Which location is suitable?
  9. floor
  10. Plant snow forsythia correctly
  11. Water snow forsythia
  12. Fertilize snow forsythia properly
  13. Pruning snow forsythia properly
  14. Grow snow forsythia
  15. hibernate
  16. diseases and pests
  17. species and varieties

    18. origin and distribution

    Despite the name, the snow forsythia (bot. Abeliophyllum distichum) does not belong to the genus of forsythia, but is the only species of the plant genus Abeliophyllum. As such, it belongs to the olive tree family (Oleaceae) and is related to the yellow garden forsythia, which is much better known in this country. In the meantime, Abeliophyllum distichum has also become rare in its natural locations, rocky areas in far away South Korea - one more reason to plant the shrub, which blooms wonderfully in spring, more often in gardens. Here he not only enchants the viewer with his lush white flowers, but also with an aromatic almond scent.

    use

    The snow forsythia remains a rather dainty shrub that can be planted very well as a solitaire in small gardens or in the front yard. It can also be kept on the balcony or terrace, provided the tree is planted in a sufficiently large bucket. Furthermore, the fast-growing shrub is also very suitable for hedge planting, for example together with native wild shrubs or yellow forsythia.

    As a container plant, the snow forsythia decorates the main entrance of your house or - set up as a trellis - forms a kind of privacy screen on the terrace. In the garden, the shrub is particularly effective in front of evergreen trees such as a yew or boxwood hedge, because their dark green foliage really sets the scene for the white flowers. Finally, in spring, the snow forsythia blooms with a carpet of crocuses, yellow daffodils and/or blue grape hyacinths planted in front of it.

    appearance and growth

    The snow forsythia is a rather delicate shrub that grows up to two meters high and just as wide. The species grows comparatively slowly, adding only between ten and thirty centimeters of new growth per year. In older specimens, the twigs and branches overhang, which finally gives the wood a picturesque look.

    leaves

    The foliage of the snow forsythia is deciduous, i. H. the shrub sheds its leaves in autumn. At this time of year the leaves turn yellow to reddish. The new sprouting occurs only after flowering. The strong, dark green leaves are on short petioles that are opposite on the branches. The leaf blade is oval to lanceolate in shape and can be up to about five centimeters long. Both sides of the leaf are finely hairy.

    flowers and flowering time

    Like the yellow forsythia, the snow forsythia also heralds spring with an impressive display of flowers: the numerous white flower bells usually appear between March and May, but can bloom as early as January in regions with a mild climate. The shrub beguiles with its lush abundance of countless small, white or delicate pink flowers. These are five-fold and grow up to a maximum of one centimeter. The intense almond scent attracts many insects, whereby the shrub is particularly interesting as a food source for the bumblebees, which often fly very early in the year.

    fruit

    After flowering, numerous round wing nuts, between two and three centimeters in size, develop. They are flat in shape and each carries two seeds in a pocket. These, in turn, ripen in summer.

    toxicity

    In contrast to the slightly poisonous garden forsythia, the snow forsythia is considered non-toxic. Nevertheless, both the flowers and the fruits are inedible.

    Which location is suitable?

    The easy-care snow forsythia feels particularly comfortable in a sunny and wind-protected location, but still thrives in light shade - the species is considered adaptable. Plant Abeliophyllum distichum in such a way that the shrub comes into its own, especially during flowering.

    floor

    With regard to the soil, snow forsythia are also quite adaptable, only heavily compacted, permanently moist substrates and waterlogging should be avoided. However, the shrub does best with a humus-rich, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. Since the plant is also sensitive to lime, the soil should be as low in lime as possible. Enhance sandy, rather poor soil with compost, but heavier soil can be made more permeable with gravel or sand. On the other hand, a dry substrate is unsuitable.

    Plant snow forsythia correctly

    The best time to plant snow forsythia is a frost-free, mild day in spring, when the ground is already nice and loose and no longer frozen. Alternatively, planting in autumn is also possible. It is best to plant the shrub as a solitary plant in the ground or keep a planting distance of at least one meter from neighboring plants. On the one hand, the snow forsythia can become quite expansive over the years, on the other hand, this is how its beauty comes into its own. Only when planting a hedge can the planting distance be smaller, here you can plant up to two plants per meter.

    And this is how the snow forsythia is planted in the ground:

    • choose a suitable location
    • Place the root ball in a bucket of water
    • dig a sufficiently large planting hole
    • should be twice as wide and twice as deep as the root ball
    • Fill in drainage layer of gravel or sand
    • Mix excavation with compost
    • Use snow forsythia
    • Fill in the soil and press down well
    • pour copiously

    You can then mulch the root area so that the soil does not dry out so quickly, especially in a sunny location. The mulch layer keeps the moisture in the soil and makes it easier for the plant to grow.

    Water snow forsythia

    Freshly planted snow forsythia should be watered when the weather is dry so that the shrub takes root better and does not suffer any drought damage. If, on the other hand, the plant is well rooted and established in its location, the occasional rain is usually sufficient. Now only water during a longer period of drought. Specimens cultivated in tubs also need a regular water supply. Only use low-lime water in the form of rainwater or well stagnant tap water.

    Fertilize snow forsythia properly

    If the snow forsythia is on humus-rich soil and was already provided with compost when planting, further fertilization is not necessary. You should only provide the shrub with compost between spring and autumn on poor soil. Container specimens are fertilized every two weeks between April and October with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants.

    Pruning snow forsythia properly

    While the yellow-flowering garden forsythia should be pruned annually, regular pruning of the slower-growing snow forsythia is basically not necessary. Here it is sufficient if you prune the shrub about every two to three years. The thinning cut ensures that the plant retains its shape and does not become senile. It is best to reach for the pruning shears after flowering, as the flowers of the coming year are already attached to the one-year-old wood in autumn. If you cut back too late, you can lose the flowering splendor. Prune all shoots back about a third to a well formed bud. In the event of an illness, a radical pruning may sometimes be necessary, but the snow forsythia usually tolerates this well.

    Grow snow forsythia

    In principle, the snow forsythia can be propagated very easily via cuttings or sinkers. For a sinker, select a strong shoot that grows close to the ground in late summer and carve it with a sharp knife. Dig a small hole under the bush and place the shoot with the scored part in it. Cover the hole and shoot with soil and weigh both down, for example with a stone. Tie the protruding shoot tip vertically upwards so that the young plant grows in a pleasing way. Next spring, the shoot part covered with soil should have developed its own roots, so that you can separate the sinker from the mother plant and plant it separately.

    For the propagation of cuttings, cut the desired number of strong shoots about ten to 15 centimeters long after flowering. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the branches and plant them separately in pots filled with potting soil. Place the planters in a warm and bright location and keep the substrate evenly moist. After the cuttings have developed their own roots, they can be planted outdoors the following spring.

    hibernate

    Since the snow forsythia is sufficiently hardy even in our climate, protective measures are only necessary in exceptional cases. For example, late frosts can freeze the blooms, which is why you should wrap the buds and flowering shoots of the shrub overnight with jute or gardening fleece when the announced low temperatures. Snow forsythia kept in pots also need winter protection or it is best to hibernate in a cool, but frost-free and bright place in the house or conservatory anyway.

    diseases and pests

    Hardy snow forsythia is rarely attacked by diseases or pests. Nevertheless, she is of course not immune to it, especially waterlogging or permanently damp soil can lead to infections.

    tips

    The branches of the snow forsythia can be used very well as St. Barbara's branches: cut them on St. Barbara's Day, December 4th, and they will bloom in the vase within a few days. The Christmas tradition is said to bring good luck for the coming year.

    species and varieties

    Various varieties of the widespread yellow garden forsythia are known, but of the snow forsythia, which is still rare at present, only the species is occasionally offered in the trade. Incidentally, there are no crossbreeds between the two species, since, despite all the similarities, they are different genera.

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Garden design