Quick Guide: spring, hardy, sun/semi-shade, height: 2.4m/8ft, width: 2.1m/7ft

Forsythia is an easily grown shrub whose brilliant yellow flowers appear before the foliage. It is very successful in town gardens. Forsythia suspensa is suitable as a wall shrub for any aspect, while F. x intermedia is the best choice for hedging.

GROWING Plant from autumn to spring in any moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade. F. x intermedia grown as a hedge should be planted in autumn. Set 45cm/18in high plants the 45cm/18in apart. Cut back all shoots by one-third after planting. Pinch out the growing tips at 15cm/6in. Clip established hedges lightly in spring after flowering. Prune all species in spring to neaten and to clear damaged wood.

PROPAGATION Take 30cm/12in cuttings of the current season's growth in autumn and insert in a nursery bed outdoors for planting out one year later. The drooping branches of F. suspensa sometimes take root where they touch the ground. Separate the rooted layers in autumn and treat as cuttings.

SPECIES F. x intermedia (above), hybrid form bearing abundant flowers on stiff branches. `Spectabilis' is the most common variety, compact in shape with vivid flowers; F. suspensa, rambling habit, may exceed 3 x 3m/10 x 10ft on a wall. F. s. sieboldii has trailing stems.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Birds eat flowerbuds; honey fungus can kill plants.