Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Forsythia is a classic spring blooming shrub. The yellow blooms usher in warmer weather and signal that it is time to start spending more time in our gardens. Meadowlark Forsythia is an upright variety that not only has the standard yellow flower display in April, it will add to your other fall foliage colors in the garden.
Meadowlark Forsythia is the hardiest variety of all Forsythia and has a complete bud set even in the colder hardiness zones. The overall shape is semi-arching and will gracefully fill in open spots at the back of a Cottage Garden or work as a medium sized informal hedge if planted in groups. The green foliage in summer makes a lovely backdrop to perennials.
Meadowlark Forsythia Care
Forsythia likes to be planted in full sun, but will tolerate part shade. Shade either early in the day or late in the afternoon will not cause issues with blooming. Average soil texture and a neutral pH are fine. Well drained soil that doesn’t get waterlogged during the winter is perfect. Forsythia will require supplemental irrigation during extended hot or dry spells. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses help to keep the foliage dry and free from fungus and mildew infections.
Pruning of Forsythia is done after the blooms have finished in May. Cutting out diseased, dying, dead and diagonal growth now will help to shape the shrub and encourage good growth during the summer. Forsythia bloom on old wood, so early spring pruning poses the risk of cutting out flower stems. Forsythia is one of the classic “forcing” shrubs for early spring. Cutting stray branches just as the buds form and placing a vase of room temperature water will force the stem to continue blooming and make for an attractive indoor display.
Meadowlark Forsythia Spacing
Meadowlark is a medium-sized shrub that grows to a mature height of 7-8 feet and a width of 5-6 feet. It is great in a mixed, informal hedge. Planting at 5 feet on center is recommended. Underplanting of bulbs or low growing perennials is best done at a space of 16 inches from the base of the shrub.
Meadowlark Forsythia Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 3 to 8 (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
- 7-8 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Yellow
- Flower Description
- Yellow
- 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
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Meadowlark Forsythia
- Botanical Name
- FORSYTHIA X 'MEADOWLARK'
- 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
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
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!