Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Common White Forsythia puts on a lovely floral display each spring. Purple buds emerge on upright, arching branches and open to reveal star-shaped white flowers. Also known as Abeliophyllum distichum, this forsythia is covered in sweet-smelling flowers for a couple of weeks during the spring. The flowers stand out because the foliage does not fill in until after the blooms fade.
The bluish-green foliage gives this shrub a full and dense appearance throughout the summer and fall. The Common White Forsythia is very showy during the spring, but it takes more of a supporting role in the landscape during the summer and fall. Feature this shrub in a hedge or along a fence to create a dense screen. This is a deciduous shrub that grows in zones 5 through 9. The Common White Forsythia is deer resistant, making it a good choice in areas where foraging animals are a problem.
Common White Forsythia Care
This is a low-maintenance shrub that thrives in full sun. Plant it in moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. While young plants need regular water, established shrubs only need water during a dry spell. Fertilize this shrub annually in early spring using a balanced plant food.
Prune the Common White Forsythia as needed immediately after the flowers fade. This shrub blooms on new growth, so pruning before the flowers emerge will reduce the total number of blooms.
Common White Forsythia Spacing
The Common White Forsythia will stand 5 to 6 feet tall and equally wide when mature. Space shrubs 5 feet apart to create a border or hedge.
Common White Forsythia Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 5-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Early Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Common White Forsythia
- Also Known As
- Common White Forsythia
- Botanical Name
- Abeliophyllum distichum
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!