Forsythia koreana Kumsun

The Kumsun Korean Forsythia or Forsythia koreana in latin, is a small deciduous shrub which is quite unique. Its superb foliage has a granite-like appearance, but in reality it is finely veined with cream-white on a green background. It has a bushy and relaxed habit which is slightly spreading with thin stems.  This distinguishes it from other forsythias, which can sometimes be a bit stiff. Its spring flowers, with small golden yellow bells scattered along the bare branches, clearly demonstrates its relation with other forsythias, our spring stars. This is an original variety to discover which is as hardy as the others and can be showcased as a specimen, in the center of a border, or even in a very large pot on the terrace.

The 'Kumsun' Korean Forsythia belongs to the olive family. This variety comes from the Korean Forsythia, which was once considered a subspecies of F. viridissima, native to China, but is now classified as a separate species. 'Kumsun' is different from other forsythias due to its graceful, bushy and slightly spreading habit.  It keeps its spread within 1.2 meters (3 feet 11 inches) in all directions. Its slender and flexible branches are reddish-brown. Like the others, it provides a true spring spectacle from March to May, literally covered with numerous small bell-shaped flowers in bright yellow. The flowers are followed by the emergence of deciduous foliage, and what foliage it is! The 'Kumsun' Korean Forsythia is one of the few in its species to have tender green foliage with numerous veins colored cream and yellow, creating a very bright variegated pattern. 

The 'Kumsun' Forsythia is hardy and very easy to maintain.  It grows in all types of soil as long as the soil does not retain too much winter moisture. It can be cultivated in pots due to its small size, as a specimen or in groups in borders, particularly with Pink Abeliophyllum, Abelia grandiflora, Smoke Bush or with Mahonia or Mock Orange. It can also be used as a flowering hedge as its branching is quite low and it tolerates pruning well. You can also train it against a wall. Its branches can be cut in early December and placed in a vase, they will flower for Christmas.