Forsythia intermedia Goldrausch

Forsythia (x) intermedia Goldraush is a new variety of forsythia that will delight enthusiasts as it announces the return of spring so brilliantly. It forms a large shrub with an upright and regular habit and develops strong branches covered with large golden yellow flowers, grouped in very tight clusters. Wonderful in the garden, its flowering will also be very beautiful in vases in winter or spring bouquets. 

Forsythia x intermedia Goldraush is a deciduous shrub belonging to the olive family. It descends from a spontaneous hybrid resulting from two species native to China, Forsythia suspensa and F. viridissima. It will reach a maximum of 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) in all directions (on average 2 m (6 ft 7 in)), to create a regular, well-rounded, well-branched shrub with a dense growth habit. Like other forsythias, it provides a real spring spectacle in March-April, before the appearance of its foliage. Its one-year-old and older branches are particularly floriferous: they are literally covered with numerous bell-shaped flowers, 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter, grouped in small clusters along the branches. Each flower has 4 petals and stamens of a warm and bright yellow around a small red throat. Flowering is followed by the appearance of the foliage. The leaves of this variety are a dark green colour from spring to summer, before turning orange and violet in autumn. They are long, pointed leaves measuring 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) long, with dentate edges.

Forsythia Goldraush is perfectly hardy, undemanding and very easy to maintain. It grows in any type of sufficiently deep soil and in most climates. This particularly ornamental variety finds its place in gardens of all sizes. It can be placed in a large shrub bed or in a flowering hedge, alongside Japanese quinces, Japanese spireas, Cotinus (Cotinus coggygria Lilla), or even with mahonias, lilacs, mock oranges, Berberis, and many others shrubs. In early December, cut a branch or two and put them in a vase, they will bloom for Christmas.