Lynwood Gold Shrubs

Characteristics

• “Lynwood Gold,” a deciduous shrub, grows to a height and width of 6 to 9 feet. It blooms profusely in late winter or early spring, covering its branches with bright yellow flowers. The flowers appear before the shrub puts on new foliage. While not especially showy during the summer, it does provide greenery and texture with dark green, 3 1/2-inch-long toothy-edged leaves. In the fall, however, the leaves develop a purple tinge, which is not a trait of most other forsythias.

Cultural Requirements and Care

• “Lynwood Gold” is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. It blooms more profusely in full sun but will also grow and bloom nicely in partial shade. It's not particular about soil type or pH, but the soil must drain quickly. “Lynwood Gold,” not a drought-tolerant shrub, needs to be given 2 to 3 gallons of supplemental water every week or two during extended dry periods. Sprinkle 1 to 3 tablespoons of balanced 10-10-10 shrub fertilizer around it in the spring if the shrub is planted in the fall, or about two months after planting it in the spring. In subsequent years, give the shrub about 1/2 cup of fertilizer each spring. After the shrub is a few years old, prune it in the spring right after it finishes blooming. Remove older stems to keep the shrub growing, and you can also prune stems back to shape it. Overgrown shrubs can be pruned all the way down to a few inches high to rejuvenate them.

Uses

• “Lynwood Gold” shrubs make ideal shrub borders, formal or informal hedges, and screens. You can also grow them in foundation landscapes. They should be planted 3 to 4 feet away from each other and from other shrubs and structures, so they can reach their full size and still have room for good air circulation. Many gardeners plant them in large groups on banks, hills and slopes.

Pests and Diseases

• “Lynwood Gold” is not generally attacked by insects, but it may develop leaf spots or crown gall. Leaf spots are cause by bacteria and fungi. The spots are usually black or brown and some leaf drop may occur. This isn't a serious problem for the shrub and generally does not require any special treatment. Prune off the unsightly foliage and remove it from the area; debris should be removed from the ground around the shrub. Water the plant in the morning, below the foliage. Crown gall is caused by a bacteria, and woody enlarged tissue forms around the crown of the shrub. There is no cure, although the shrub may live for years after becoming infected. The bacteria will continue to live in the soil after the shrub is removed. Inspect the shrub crown before you purchase it. Do not plant it where previous landscape plants have been affected by this disease. Infected stems growing from below the gall can be pruned off to improve the shrub’s appearance. Always disinfect the pruners with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution before and after cutting diseased branches and between plants.