…April: spring’s a’poppin’!...

  Featured Plant of the Month: Forsythia, Forsythia x intermedia

• Garden Location: Rose Garden (wall), Hudson Residence, Interesting Tree Grove

• Distinguishing Features: Forsythia is a deciduous shrub widely known for its early spring appeal as it is one of the first plants to flower each season. Its spectacular flowers, approximately ¼” to ½” long, appear in hues ranging from pale to deep yellow and often grow in groupings of two or three. Forsythia’s flowers emerge in early spring and remain on the stems until the leaves appear in late spring to early summer. The simple, toothed leaves are 3-5’’ long and are dark green in the summer and can change to purple or burgundy in the fall.

• Growth and Maintenance: The bloom season for Forsythia flowers is dependent upon temperature, as late freezes with temperatures falling below 15 degrees Fahrenheit tend to injure the fragile blooms. Forsythia can grow up to 8-10’ high and 10-12’ wide, although different varieties may display more stunted growth. Its yellow or brown branches are four-sided and grow in an upright, arching pattern. Forsythia is a very fast-growing and hardy shrub that withstands most soil types, making it a favorite planting for cities. Due to its rapid growth, Forsythia requires pruning and regular maintenance to prevent suckering. It prefers full sun and is most vibrant when planted as a shrub border, bank planting, or in a massing or grouping.

• Other Forsythia varieties growing at The Hudson Gardens:
  Early Forsythia Forsythia ovata ‘Northern Sun’ (Rose Garden wall): Grows 4-6’ high and wide, and is much more hardy than intermedia. Its flowers are somewhat larger, being ½” to ¾” wide, although its leaves are smaller than intermedia at 1.5” to 3.5” long.
  Meadowlark Forsythia Forsythia x ‘Meadowlark’ (Garden Canopy): Also extremely hardy and displays an abundant number of flowers. It grows 6-9’ high.
  Northern Sun Forsythia Forsythia x Northern Sun (Oval Garden wall): Very cold hardy.
  
  

Tulips
Tulipa spp.
Hudson Residence, Gift Shop, The Inn at Hudson Gardens

Daffodils
Narcissus spp.
Welcome Garden, Deciduous Woodland

Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
Blue Star Memorial, Oval Garden

Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
The Inn at Hudson Gardens

All photos by David Winger