Korean or White Forsythia – Abeliophyllum distichim
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By Harold Sink
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The Korean forsythia has 4-petaled, pink-tinged, white flowers that emerge before its pairs of oval, 2 to 3 inch leaves. This showy bush is not a true forsythia.
You may enjoy using this flowering bush as a hedge near your home. It would also add color toward the back of any garden, as it will grow up to five feet high and five feet wide. Yearly pruning will develop this shrub into a bushier one.
The white forsythia is a deciduous plant. It blooms in early spring throughout zones five through eight. The aromatic fragrance of this plant would make it a perfect candidate to plant near a window.
When the Korean forsythia is left to grow wild, it tends to grow spindly and not as large as it could unless it is growing in well-drained humus rich soil. You can find this bush growing mixed in with other forsythias in formal gardens across the U.S.
Some people like to grow this forsythia in an all white floral garden, or among their hostas in partially shaded areas. White forsythia will also tolerate full sun conditions, too.
Try not to over water this plant because it can tend to catch diseases easily. Moist soil is a must. Regular watering will keep it healthy and strong.
You can prune these back after they stop blooming, but it is much better to wait until late fall to prune them since they are deciduous. A four-inch layer of mulch around these bushes will keep the soil moist longer. Thus, you will not need to water them near as much.
Mixing in other plants that are colorful and grow differently will add to a more astonishing view. Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia), European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), and Dwarf Chinese Astilbe (Astilbe arendsii) are a few suggestions.
This array of plants would be perfect in that partially shaded garden of yours. In fact, the Korean forsythia can nearly tolerate full shade. So if you want to, you can plant it in with those shade loving plants as well.
Begonia, sweet woodruff and caladium are also a good mixture with this stately white bush adding much color around it. For an all white appearance you can grow it with bush violets, black snakeroot, lily-of-the-valley, bunchberry, and alumroot.
Whatever you choose to plant around or along with the Korean forsythia, make sure it can grow in partial shade and moist soil.
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Author Bio Box: Harold Sink
 Personal experience
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