Move Over Forsythia: 3 Shrubs That Bloom Early

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Blooming forsythia are the burst of yellow that signals spring has sprung, and while it does pack a punch in the early season, maybe you are looking for an early blooming alternative?

Here are three shrubs that not only bloom beautifully, but also feed pollinators, delight birds, and keep your garden looking fabulous long after spring.


1. Corylopsis spicata – Spike Winterhazel
Understated elegance

Spike Winterhazel’s bell-shaped, lemon-yellow flowers hang like little tassels from bare branches. It’s graceful and architectural with an an upright, spreading form.

  • Size: 4–6 feet tall and wide


  • Foliage: Blue-green serrated leaves in summer



  • Best For: Shadier spots where you want spring drama



2. Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
A Pollinator Magnet with Fall Foliage Flair

This beauty an overachiever in your garden—fragrant yellow blooms, gorgeous gold foliage in fall, plus red berries in late summer (Spicebush berries are one of the best sources of energy for long distance migratory birds). 
Not only that, but it’s a host plant for both spicebush and tiger swallowtail caterpillars—so plant one, and you’ll be fostering baby butterflies!

  • Size: 6–12 feet tall and wide


  • Foliage: Aromatic and golden in fall



  • Care Tips: Spicebush will grow dense in full sun and “artistically open” in the shade. It will languish in dry soil, so make sure you plant it in moist soil.

3. Abeliophyllum distichum – White Forsythia
The Early Bloomer with a a subtle scent

An alternative that blooms even earlier than yellow forsythia is Abeliophyllum distichum (white forsythia). This cold-hardy, easy-care plant is also deer resistant! In spring, before the bush gets its leaves, purple buds open to profuse clusters of white, slightly fragrant blooms on arching branches.

  • Size: 6 feet tall and wide, but it can be pruned back to fit in smaller spaces


  • Flowers: White clusters with subtle scent


  • Best For: Anyone who prefers white over yellow

"Here's my white forsythia which I purchased from Victoria at Garden Day, probably a dozen years ago. It's my first shrub to open each year (before it's yellow, boring twin), has a soft fragrance, and requires nothing from me beyond an occasional pruning. Yes, it slightly wants to sucker larger over time, but nothing approaching annoying. I love it!"
Regards, 
Kath 

 

Yellow forsythia will always have a place—but you do have early blooming alternatives!

Visit the nursery and be inspired!
Victoria Gardens, 1 Cottekill Road, ROSENDALE, NY