THE forsythia is always a welcome sight in spring, its bright yellow tubular flowers appearing on long stemmed branches before the leaves.

These deciduous shrubs, which make good hedging or sit easily among other plants in shrub borders, will grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade and should be pruned after flowering as they usually flower on the previous year’s growth. Pruning immediately after flowering allows the maximum time for development of young growth.

Early blooming shrubs like flowering quince make good companions as they offset the forsythia’s bright yellow blooms. Good varieties of forsythia include ‘Lynwood Gold’, ‘New Hampshire Gold’, ‘Kusma’ and ‘Golden Bell’.