Abeliophyllum distichum
white forsythia
This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: slow to average
- Flowering period: February to March
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Masses of small, fragrant, star-shaped, occasionally pink-tinged white flowers in February and March followed by matt, dark green leaves. This delightful, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub is perfect for a sunny mixed border. To fully appreciate the sweetly scented flowers plant in fertile, well-drained soil close to a warm house wall or path. - Garden care: Prune after flowering in spring, cutting back some of the old wood to a vigorous side shoot and then apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plant. Once established, after flowering in spring cut back every second or third flowered shoot to the base.