Yellow forsythia can be found in almost every garden - but the white forsythia (bot. Abeliophyllum distichum), also called snow forsythia, with its bright white flowers and magically sweet almond scent, is rather rare. The easy-care shrub grows to around two meters high and just as wide. With these dimensions, the spring bloomer is also suitable for small gardens.
What is snow forsythia and where does it come from?
The snow forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum) is a shrub-like spring bloomer with white flowers and a sweet almond scent. It comes from South Korea, reaches a height and width of around two meters and is suitable for small gardens, hedge plantings or containers.
Origin and distribution
Despite the name, the snow forsythia (bot. Abeliophyllum distichum) does not belong to the genus 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. Even in its natural habitat, rocky areas in distant South Korea, Abeliophyllum distichum has now become rare - one more reason to plant the wonderfully spring-flowering shrub in gardens. Here it enchants the viewer not only with its lush white flowers, but also with its aromatic almond scent.
Usage
The snow forsythia remains a quite delicate shrub that can be planted very well as a solitary plant in small gardens or in the front garden. It is also possible to keep it on the balcony or terrace as long as the tree is planted in a sufficiently large container. Furthermore, the fast-growing shrub is also very suitable for planting hedges, for example together with native wild shrubs or yellow forsythia.
As a potted plant, the snow forsythia decorates the main entrance to your house or, when set up as a trellis, forms a kind of privacy wall on the terrace. In the garden, the shrub is particularly effective in front of evergreen trees such as a yew or box hedge, because their dark green foliage really sets off the white flowers. In spring, the snow forsythia finally blooms in competition with a flower 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, only adding between ten and 30 centimeters of new growth per year. In older specimens, the twigs and branches hang over, which ultimately gives the tree a picturesque appearance.
leaves
The foliage of the snow forsythia is deciduous, i.e. H. the shrub sheds its leaves in autumn. At this time of year the leaves turn yellow to reddish. New growth only occurs after flowering. The strong, dark green leaves sit opposite each other on the branches on short petioles. The leaf blade is oval to lanceolate in shape and can be up to five centimeters long. Both leaf sides are finely hairy.
Flowers and flowering time
Like the yellow forsythia, the snow forsythia also announces 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 mild climates. The shrub captivates with its lush abundance of countless small, white or delicate pink flowers. There are five of them and grow to a maximum size of one centimeter. The intense almond scent attracts many insects, and the bush is particularly interesting as a food source for bumblebees, which often fly very early in the year.
Fruits
After flowering, numerous round wing nuts, between two and three centimeters in size, develop. They are flat in shape and each carry 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 location that is as sunny and sheltered from the wind as possible, but also thrives well in light shade - the species is considered adaptable. Plant Abeliophyllum distichum so 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 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. Improve sandy, rather barren soil with compost; heavier soil can be made more permeable with gravel or sand. However, a dry surface is unsuitable.
Planting snow forsythia correctly
The best date for planting 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 maintain a planting distance of at least one meter from neighboring plants. On the one hand, the snow forsythia can become quite sprawling over the years, but on the other hand, this is how its beauty is best showcased. 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:
- select 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 a drainage layer of gravel or sand
- Mix excavated material with compost
- Insert snow forsythia
- Fill in soil and press down well
- water abundantly
So that the soil does not dry out so quickly, especially in a sunny location, you can then mulch the root area. The mulch layer keeps the moisture in the soil and makes it easier for the plant to grow.
Watering snow forsythia
Freshly planted snow forsythia should be watered in dry weather so that the shrub roots better and does not suffer any damage from drought. However, if the plant is well rooted and established in its location, occasional rain is usually sufficient. Now only water if there is a prolonged period of drought. Even specimens grown in pots need a regular supply of water. Only use low-lime water in the form of rainwater or well-stale 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 supply the shrub with compost between spring and autumn on poor soils. Between April and October, container specimens are fertilized every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants.
Cut snow forsythia correctly
While the yellow-flowering garden forsythia should be cut annually, regular pruning of the slower-growing snow forsythia is basically not necessary. Here it is sufficient if you trim the bush about every two to three years. The thinning cut ensures that the plant retains its shape and does not age. It's best to grab secateurs after flowering, as next year's flowers will appear on the annual wood in autumn. Pruning too late can deprive you of the flowers. Cut back all shoots by approximately a third to a well-formed bud. In the event of illness, radical pruning may sometimes be necessary, but snow forsythia usually tolerates this well.
Propagate snow forsythia
In principle, snow forsythia can be propagated very easily via cuttings or planters. To make a sinker, select a strong shoot growing close to the ground in late summer and score it with a sharp knife. Dig a small hole under the bush and place the shoot with the scratched area 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 has a pleasing growth habit. Next spring, the part of the shoot that is covered with soil should have developed its own roots, so that you can separate the sinker from the mother plant and plant it separately.
To propagate from cuttings, cut the desired number of strong shoots about ten to 15 centimeters long after flowering. Remove the leaves on 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.
Wintering
Since the snow forsythia is sufficiently hardy even in our climate, protective measures are only necessary in exceptional cases. For example, late frosts can cause the flowers to freeze, which is why you should cover the bush's buds and flower shoots with jute or gardening fleece overnight when temperatures are predicted to be low. Snow forsythia that are kept in pots also need winter protection and are best overwintered in a cool, but frost-free and bright place in the house or winter garden.
Diseases and pests
The robust snow forsythia is rarely attacked by diseases or pests. However, it is of course not immune from this, especially waterlogging or permanently moist soil can lead to infections.
Tip
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 currently still rare, only the species is occasionally offered in stores. Incidentally, there are no crosses between the two species because, despite all the similarities, they are different genera.
