Are Forsythia Bushes "Wild" or are they a plant that has been cultured by gardeners?

It is my wife's contention that all Forsythia are "Wild". Their natural shape makes them look unkept and "matted" in my opinion. I prefer to see them cleaned from all the "clutter" and have a cascade shape.

Are Forsythia Bushes "Wild" or are they a plant that has been cultured by gardeners?
As the others have said certain varieties are wild in their country of origin, but its a safe bet yours is a cultivated one.Having said that, if they are left unpruned they will have a


'wild' look whatever the variety.


If you win the dissagreement about the look you want, then pruning them is not straight forward.To get a tidy look it will need to be regularly pruned as follows-


Most important is to prune just after it has finished flowering, because they flower on last years growth.This will give it time to grow new branches for next years flowers.Start by pruning about 1/3rd of the oldest growth nearly to the ground ( the branches that have flowered this year). This will help to produce a more compact form.Trim the rest to a more compact shape.You can trim the odd branch here and there later as long as you remember you are cutting off potential flowers for next year.
Reply:Here is a site showing several Forsythia varieties that have been hybridized, is this what you're looking for?





Forsythia varieties


http://www.naturehills.com/catalog/Bushe...


Nature Hills Nursery


Note that many of them are labeled as Forsythia "Name given by it's hybridizer" an example would be Forsythia "Meadowlark"





So, Forsythia suspensa var. sieboldii is a variety of a species but the others that are the product of hybridization by plant growers are not considered wild.





Regardless of however they found their way to your home, it was most likely because someone intentionally planted it there.
Reply:forsythia announce spring with JOY!!!... so WILD is the better way to see them....not clipped into squares...the plants have several hybrids that have been developed, but all still have that little wild hair.....*smile*.... the best one I ever saw was HUGE, never pruned , and had reached the point where all the branches grew UP, then arched over, some touching the ground... it made a perfect hideout/cave in the summer for kids to play under!!!....





as for pruning, it's a matter of choice/taste, but I agree with the folks on this site...





http://www.forthgo.com/blog/category/nat...





there are websites that deal with pruning a forsythia... some suggest removing older wood at the base, some cut it to the ground, and some just say 'prune after flowering'.... the old wood is the best to have removed, to me.... that results in fresh new growth , an open look, and wonderful blooms!....like the first picture...!!!
Reply:It's origin is from Asia/China, one of the first shrubs to bloom


not a weed
Reply:They were named for an English botanist, William Forsythe, who discovered the plant. It is of Korean origin. As for it's being "wild", it is not native here although it flourishes in the US. All forsythia growing here have been planted at some time or another.
Reply:non=native cultivated shrub that should not be pruned, so that it retains its upright-arching habit. bad pruning with shears creates the unnatural look.
Reply:forsynthia is not wild; you can trim to whatever size/shape you want it to be; it will not hurt or harm it; some like them super tall; others like them compact %26amp; neat; if you are buying one, check out the details on all of them b/4 making purchase; also, there is a kerria bush that is arcing %26amp; has yellow blooms on it all along the branches %26amp; they have arching shape.