Skip The Seeds: Helpful Do's And Don'ts For Forsythia Propagation

Get your forsythia fix without the wait — here's how to propagate like a garden genius. Native to China, these hardy shrubs can grow from 8 to 10 feet tall and fare well in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b through 8. In the early spring, they produce bursts of gorgeous four-petal flowers in various shades of yellow, depending on the species. The blooms typically last about two weeks, then the forsythia leaf out, producing bright green foliage to add interest to your garden over the summer. By learning how to grow and take care of forsythia plants, you'll ensure that your shrub looks beautiful all year round. So beautiful, in fact, you may be inspired to multiply it! 

Forsythia isn't easy to grow from seeds, as the process is slow, and some varieties are even sterile. However, luckily, forsythia is an easy plant to propagate, with cuttings that can be taken year-round. In spring, take softwood cuttings from young, non-flowering shoots. During late summer and fall, semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken, while in winter, hardwood cuttings are ideal. When the plant is dormant, select a sturdy branch and cut it where it branches off from the shrub. Though the methods vary slightly by season, the result is always the same: a beautiful new plant ready to bloom in spring!

Rooting cuttings is like nature's magic trick — start with a stick and end up with a flourishing plant. To begin with a softwood cutting, wait until your forsythia shrub has flowered but not yet leafed out. Select a branch and make a clean cut just below a leaf node. Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, such as Hormex Rooting Powder, to encourage root development. Next, choose a rooting medium like coarse sand, perlite, or sphagnum moss — Legigo 3.5oz Premium Sphagnum Moss Potting Mix is a great option. Fill a pot with your chosen medium and plant the cutting about two inches deep. This produce net hack will keep the forsythia branches upright as they develop roots. Keep the medium moist and place the pot in bright, direct sunlight.

To take a hardwood cutting, look for a branch about the width of a pencil. Cut about an inch below a leaf node, making sure each cutting has at least three leaf nodes on it.  Then, fill a pot with your chosen potting medium and water well. Place your cutting in the pot, making sure two leaf nodes are below the soil. Don't worry about temperature — these cuttings are dormant. They can be left outside or placed in a garage until spring. Once your last freeze has occurred, move them outside to soak up that sunlight and bud out. With patience and care, your cutting will transform into a vibrant new plant.

Even seasoned gardeners can stumble when propagating forsythia—here are the mistakes to avoid if you want to see those golden blooms this season. One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make when propagating forsythia — and other plants — is using dirty tools. Even if your tools aren't visibly dirty, they could still hold lingering bacteria or diseases from other plants. To protect the health of both your original plant and your cutting, make sure to clean your tools before making any incisions to your plant — a solution of 10% bleach works well. By taking the time to sanitize your tools, you set the stage for healthy, vibrant growth and give your forsythia cuttings the best chance to thrive.

Another common mistake gardeners make when propagating plants is planting them in the ground at the wrong time. If you've taken a spring cutting, wait until early fall to place your plant in the ground in the desired location in your garden. Hardwood cuttings take a long time to be ready — give them a full calendar year to root in your pot and plan to plant them the next fall. Then keep them well-watered to promote healthy rooting in the soil. Your new forsythia will take a few years to mature into a full-sized shrub, but you'll love watching its growth along the way.