Forsythia × intermedia 'Courtasol' [sold as Gold Tide®]
Dwarf Border Forsythia

Forsythia × intermedia ′Courtasol′ [sold as Gold Tide®] - Summer Habit

Family:

Oleaceae (Olive Family) 45

Genus:

Forsythia (Forsythia Border Forsythia) 7

Plant Type:

Shrub 468

Growth Forms:

Bushy 187

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 252

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

Yellow (Lovely, 4-petaled, rich, bright yellow flowers (1.25-1.5" across) in early to mid spring; flowers killed by -10 to 15 degrees F)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Rich, dark green summer foliage); Yellow (Generally poor yellow-green to purple tinged in the fall)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Capsules; not ornamentally important)

Ultimate Height:

1-2 feet

Ultimate Spread:

4-5 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Quite adaptable to soil type

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (3-5" long by 1.5-2.5" wide) are opposite, simple, and entire near base and toothed near tip. Flowers form in leaf axils. Multiple buds at nodes. Four-sided, greenish-brown stems having chambered pith and solid pith at nodes (Forsythia suspensa has hollow internodes).

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 287

Pollution Tolerant 217

Additional Information

'Courtasol' is a compact, dwarf cultivar that can function as a groundcover. It has arching branches that are covered with an abundance of bright yellow flowers early in the spring. Cut stems excised in mid-winter will flower indoors due to very short chilling requirement. Hardy to USDA Zone 4 for vegetative parts and USDA 5(6) for flowers. Flower buds are killed by severe winters in zone 5, and frequently in colder zones. Plants, however, are hardy in Zone 4. Remove old wood for best appearance.