Meadowlark Forsythia - Forsythia x ‘Meadowlark’

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Descriptions of 42 NDSU Woody Plant Introductions (1986 - 2008)
Dept. of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University
Dr. Dale E. Herman, Larry Chaput, and Dr. David Dai

With extreme flower-bud hardiness, bright yellow flowers, quality foliage, ease of softwood cutting propagation, adaptability and vigor, Forsythia x ‘Meadowlark’ has been widely planted as an ornamental shrub for northern landscapes. It was introduced by the agricultural experiment stations at NDSU and SDSU, in collaboration with the Arnold Arboretum and the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, IA. Flower buds have shown hardiness at temperatures of -30̊ to -35̊F, and the plant is recommended throughout the Northern Plains where Forsythias are rarely flower bud hardy. The plant originated via the breeding work of Dr. Karl Sax and Haig Derman at the Arnold Arboretum from a cross of Forsythia ovata (early forsythia) and F. europaea (Albanian forsythia). Dr. Harrison Flint observed a plant from this population in full bloom after the unusually cold 1966-67 winter, while a mass planting of F. x intermedia ‘Spectabilis’ surrounding the new hybrid was nearly devoid of flowers. Flint propagated and distributed the plant, which was evaluated in North and South Dakota. It has bloomed consistently in North Dakota trials for over 30 years. No forsythia can be guaranteed to flower abundantly every year in hardiness zones 3 and 4. However, Meadowlark Forsythia comes close. It has outperformed other cultivars reputed to be of the same parentage, namely ‘Northern Sun’ (a University of MN release) and ‘Northern Gold’ (an Agriculture Canada release). The latter two have been less reliable in flowering and not as dense in growth form compared to ‘Meadowlark’ in NDSU evaluations. If flower buds of Meadowlark are damaged, it usually occurs from cold weather outbreaks from late February to late April, following warmer than average weather periods which induce dehardening of the flower buds. Microclimatic conditions of a given planting site may also play a role. The shrub is fairly drought-tolerant and rapid growing, reaching a height of 7 to 10 feet. Its spreading form is dense and not leggy. Plant in sunny sites. The mature leaves are ivy green and maintain this color until late fall. A purple-bronze cast is the first indication of fall color, though the leaves often change to golden yellow under favorable fall conditions and loamy, well-drained soils. The foliage is virtually pest free throughout the growing season. USDA hardiness zone 3.