How to Grow Forsythia from Cuttings

Bright yellow forsythia blooms are one of the earliest signs of spring.  The gold blossoms burst open in late winter here in Northern Virginia and are a brilliant contrast against the still barren frozen landscape.  It is no wonder that the meaning of this happy beauty is “anticipation”.

Not only are the sunny flowers a beautiful addition to any landscape, but these early bloomers are an early source of food for honeybees after a long winter. Every time I walk by our forsythia patch in early spring, I catch sight of pollen-covered honeybees happily buzzing among the flowers.

You can grow your own forsythia pretty much anywhere. It is hardy between zones 4-9, it grows in sun or shade, it tolerates poor soil, and depending on the vibe you are trying to create, it may not even need pruning.  Who couldn’t use more gorgeous care-free plants in their landscape? 

Whether you want to add to the collection you are already growing in your yard or want to share these beauties with a friend, I will show you how to easily propagate this stunner any time of year. Forsythia are notoriously prolific and can be propagated through numerous methods. Taking cuttings is my favorite method so that’s what I’m going to share with you.

You can take cuttings three different times during the year to propagate forsythia: In late winter when the branches are still bare, in late spring or early summer after the blooms are spent and you are pruning the bush, or even in the fall to grow cuttings inside or in a greenhouse over the winter to plant the following spring. 

On the edge of our farm is a massive unruly thicket of forsythia. It is wild and overgrown and beautiful. In June, I prune it back (just a little) to clear out the dead branches and clean the old leaves and dead grass from the crown. This year I am going to take some cuttings to add to the hedge of forsythia that runs along the edge of my yard by the road, but mysteriously stops in the middle. Here’s how I’m going to do it:

Follow these # easy steps and you will have new forsythia plants in 6 weeks!

1.       Sanitize your clippers in a 10% bleach solution to prevent the spread of disease pathogens.

2.       Prepare your pots:

a.       You can use any container you want. Some ideas include 6” plastic nursery pots, repurposed plastic jugs or even a storage tub that will hold multiple cuttings. Just add some holes to the bottoms of your containers if you’re using something unconventional.

b.       Fill the pots with a mix of equal parts perlite, peat moss, and potting soil.

c.       Moisten the mix and allow it to drain.

3.       Take cuttings.  You can make multiple cuttings from a single branch.  Discard the top part of the branch that is thin and flimsy and cut the rest into 6” pieces. Mark which end of the branch is up with a sharpie or piece of masking tape. Forsythia do not like to grow upside down.

4.       If it is summer or fall when you take your cuttings, remove the leaves from the lower 2” - 3” of your cutting.

5.       Dip the end of your cutting in rooting hormone or cinnamon and shake off the excess.

6.       Insert the bottom 2” - 3” of the cutting into the prepared medium.

7.       Humidity is key for rooting your new forsythia plant. If you don’t have a greenhouse, you can make a tent with a 2 gallon ziplock bag placed over the cuttings.

8.       Put your cuttings in a warm spot with indirect light. Do not expose them to bright sun while they are rooting.

9.       Check the medium daily. Remove their humidity tent for 30 minutes or so to keep mold from growing, and water them if the medium is starting to feel dry.

10.   In about 6 weeks, your forsythia will be ready to harden off and plant outside!  (If you took your cuttings in the fall, wait until the danger of frost has passed before you plant them.)

Have you tried propagating forsythia?  I’d love to hear about your experience!