Forsythia 'Spectablis'
"Golden bells"
Orders placed until 29 February 2026
You can expect your order in February/March 2026
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2026
You can expect your order in March/April 2026
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2026
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Forsythia 'Spectabilis' doesn’t bother with subtlety—it bursts into spring like a golden firework. Before most plants have even begun to stir, this exuberant golden bells shrub is already dripping with vivid yellow blooms from tip to stem, creating a dazzling curtain of colour that’s impossible to ignore. Each flower opens on bare branches, a sure sign that the cold months are behind us. Once the golden fanfare fades, Forsythia 'Spectabilis' fills out with elongated, toothed green leaves, forming a dense, arching shrub around 3m tall and 2m wide—sturdy, statuesque and full of character.
Sun-loving and forgiving by nature, Forsythia 'Spectabilis' will thrive in almost any well-drained soil, bringing cheerful light to borders, hedges or mixed planting schemes. Give it a light trim after flowering and it will reward you year after year with the same dazzling performance. Few shrubs capture the spirit of early spring quite like this one—unashamedly bright, joyfully untidy, and brimming with energy. Forsythia 'Spectabilis' doesn’t whisper that spring has arrived; it sings it from every branch.
Key features
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Perfect for pots
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Comes back every year
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Fragrant
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Attractive to wildlife
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Thrives well in full sun
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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Drought tolerant
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Fully hardy
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Rodent resistant
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Forsythia × intermedia 'Spectabilis'
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Plant size
1
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Established height
1.5-3m
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Established spread
1-2m
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Plant spacing
4 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Yellow
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Habit
Clump-forming
Upright -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
1-2 years
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Sunlight
Full sun
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
Exposed -
Suitable for
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Wildlife gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Free draining
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Soil type
Clay
Loam
Multipurpose compost -
RHS Award (AGM)
No
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Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
Yes
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
Yes
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak the Forsythia 'Spectablis' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting
Plant your "Golden bells" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost within a week of delivery and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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