An exceptional early spring flowering shrub, the Citrus Swizzle Forsythia (Forsythia viridissima ‘McKCitrine’) is a dwarf shrub with lively foliage. These would also be terrific for edging along your flower garden or shrub border.
Unlike a lot of other types of Forsythia that are grown primarily for their flowers, your Citrus Swizzle is prized for its showy foliage. Tiny, yellow flowers bloom in spring, but will likely go unnoticed as you enjoy the developing color of the leaves.
Emerging as an engaging chartreuse in spring, the serrated, elliptic leaves begin with a lime green center that slowly transitions to a creamy white, and finally to white. As autumn arrives, Citrus Swizzle’s colorful foliage slowly transforms into burgundy hues!
With a multi-stemmed, mounded form, this shrub doesn’t really have any negative characteristics, and even deer tend to pass it by. It fills out right to the ground and has a naturally pleasing shape so you don’t have to fuss with it unless you want to. Growing up to 2 feet tall and wide, these space-saving deciduous shrubs thrive throughout chilly USDA growing zones 4 to frost-free 9!
Planting and Application:
This is an excellent low-growing and rounded little flowering shrub that is a great facer shrub! Keep Citrus Swizzle Forsythia looking great in its natural form to save you time with pruning! Forsythia is spectacular when used as a low hedge in front of taller perennials, brightening rows of evergreens, or before your tired foundation plantings!
A moderately fast grower, this makes a desirable border shrub in the landscape. These would be an eye-catching display as a mass planting, or plant one here and there for some vivid splashes of color throughout your yard. Forsythia makes excellent erosion control, especially on hard-to-mow slopes and hillsides.
It is naturally very compact and self-branching so is a perfect focal point for perennial and shrub borders, and in smaller gardens too! Grow in outdoor pots on a sunny deck or balcony that way you can enjoy the variegated, color-changing foliage all season. Give it regular water to add lavish color and privacy to your small space garden, porch, and patio, or even the dramatic feature in a container garden!
- Decorative, Color-Changing Variegated Foliage!
- Bright Lemon Yellow Blossoms in Spring
- Tidy Rounded Dwarf Size
- Great Compact Form Develops Naturally
- Specimen & Accents, Low Hedges, Slopes & Facer Shrubs
Tips for Care:
Forsythia shrubs grow best in full sun, and well-drained soil that sheds water quickly after a rainfall. If needed, mound up an elevated planting site with additional soil 18 inches high by three feet wide and plant in that mound. Apply a medium amount of water on a regular basis. Keep container plants well-hydrated, as well. Providing a good layer of mulch will help keep the root system cool and moist.
Prune right after flowering is done. Every so often, prune the largest, thickest canes out at ground level to keep your shrub rejuvenated and healthy. Deer don’t prefer the taste. However, deer are hungry and curious. Apply repellent when you plant, and reapply according to label directions.
- Glows in Full Sun
- Any Well-Drained Soil – Flourishes in Alkaline Conditions
- Moderate Moisture Needs & Appreciates Mulched Beds
- Very Little Pruning Needed – But Trim After Flowering
- Disease Resistant, Easy Care, Adaptable & Hardy
With Citrus Swizzle Forsythia you don’t have to wait for a display of flowers to draw your eye. Plant one today and you can be assured of showy foliage to enhance your landscape from spring through fall.
