FORSYTHIA 



Leaf of Forsytbia viri- 

 dissima. 



upon the ground. This appears in the dealers' cata- 

 logues under whatsoever name their fancy prompts, 

 Forsythia suspensa, Forsythia seiboldi, 

 Forsythia fortunei. It is good opinion 

 that Forsythia suspensa should be re- 

 garded as the specific form and For- 

 sythia seiboldi and Forsythia fortunei 

 varieties. As the three stand side by 

 side in the Arnold Arboretum the dif- 

 ference seems to be mainly a matter of 

 foliage ; in habit they are very much 

 alike. The leaves of the F. suspensa^ 

 group are both simple and trifoliate,.: 

 those of F. viridissima are always sim- 

 ple^ There is an intermediate form, 

 probably a hybrid, which carries the 

 leaf of F. viridissima slightly modified and whose 

 branches have somewhat the grace of F. suspensa; 

 this is known as Forsythia intermedia. A third form 

 is of recent introduction ; it comes from Albania, is 

 named Forsythia europcea and is distinguished by small, 

 ovate-lanceolate, quite entire leaves. 



As the flower buds are formed the 

 summer before, in order to get the best 

 results the bushes should be pruned 

 some little time after the flowering 

 period. Then every new shoot will 

 be laden with flower buds which will 

 give an excellent account of them- 

 selves the following April. If the 

 plants are pruned in winter the flowering spray is 

 very largely removed. 



413 



Simple Leaf of For- 

 sythia suspensa. 



