Forsythia × intermedia 'Lynwood Gold'
A vigorous hybrid border forsythia noted for heavy, bright yellow bloom on bare stems. Plants perform best in full sun and average, well‑drained soil. They tolerate urban conditions and clay once established. Hardy shrubs survive most Midwest and Mid‑Atlantic winters. Bloom can be reduced by severe cold or late freezes in zone 5. Use for early color and informal hedging.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Hybrid border forsythia (deciduous shrub)
- Height × spread: 6-9 ft × 6-9 ft (1.8-2.7 m × 1.8-2.7 m)
- Bloom window: March to April
- Color & flower form: Bright yellow; single, 4‑lobed
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: zones 5-8
- Breeder / Year / Origin: sport of ‘Spectabilis’; 1935; Northern Ireland
- Awards/registration: RHS Award of Garden Merit
- Cut‑flower notes: forces easily; vase life about 5-7 days when kept cool
- Pet safety: safe (ASPCA: non‑toxic to cats and dogs)
How it differs
- Heavier bloom and larger flowers than typical border forsythia.
- Upright‑arching habit for hedges and screens.
- Buds may be lost below about −5 °F (−21 °C).
- Recorded by RHS as ‘Lynwood Variety’ (sold as ‘Lynwood Gold’).
Strengths
- Reliable early color.
- Tolerates clay and urban sites.
- Deer usually avoid it.
Care in one minute
- Full sun gives best bloom; part shade reduces flowers.
- Average, well‑drained soil; near‑neutral to slightly acidic pH.
- Water weekly first season; water only in prolonged droughts after.
- Feed lightly with compost in spring if growth is weak.
- Renewal‑prune after bloom; avoid pruning after mid‑July.
Watch‑outs
- Prune right after bloom or you remove next year’s flowers.
- Large mature width needs space.
Best uses (tags)
hedges; borders; cutting; slopes; screens
Provenance note
Discovered as a branch sport of ‘Spectabilis’ in 1935 at Lynwood garden, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; widely marketed as ‘Lynwood Gold’.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. Forsythia × intermedia ‘Lynwood Variety’.
- Royal Horticultural Society. Forsythia × intermedia ‘Lynwood Variety’.
- University of Illinois Extension. Start spring early by forcing branches indoors.
- ASPCA. Golden Bells (Forsythia) – Non‑toxic.
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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