Plant of the Month: February

Abeliophyllum distichum Common name: White forsythia Family: Oleaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: Up to 1.5m (5ft) tall and wide Form: Deciduous shrub Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil. Aspect: Full sun to partial shade Hardiness: Fully hardy, may be subject to frost damage.

Abeliophyllum distichum @ Harlow Carr

The shrub was planted just outside the Museum entrance. Recently, due to the plant centre being extended, the shrub was lifted with great care and re-planted in the south facing border running alongside the plant centre, to the right of the gardens entrance.

Abeliophyllum distichum

The only species in Abeliophyllum and native to central Korea, this plant gets its name from abelio, referring to Abelia, which its leaves, or phyllum, resemble, and distichum: in two ranks, again referring to the leaves. It is a member of the olive family, as is forsythia, although they are not related any more closely.

This pretty, round, deciduous shrub with a multi-stemmed habit is commonly called white forsythia. It is a rapid grower that will produce arching branches up to 1.5m (5ft) tall and 1.2m (4ft) wide, and it does well if trained up a wall. It is grown primarily for its very early, often profuse, sweetly scented spring flowers which consist of dense axillary clusters of white (sometimes with a pink tinge), four-petaled, flowers with a yellow eye. They open from purple buds in late winter, and cover the naked stems before the leaves unfold.

It is best grown in groups where the spring blossom can be appreciated, but not in a prominent location since the shrub has little specimen value during the rest of the growing season. It does well in a shrub border and looks best if given a dark background. After flowering, the shrub fades into the background with no particular ornamental characteristics at other seasons. Its fruits are flattened, and broadly winged.

Although it is hardy in most of Britain, flower buds can be damaged in very cold winters. White is the common flower colour, but there is a lovely pink form, Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum Group, available as well.

The starry flowers resemble those of forsythia but are produced earlier in the season. A. distichum provides a reliable display of spring flowers, and the branches may be cut and forced into bloom during the winter.

The species was first described in 1919 when it was found in Korea. After seeds and live material was sent to Britain, it rapidly became established in cultivation, and was in commercial trade by 1937.The Royal Horticultural Society awarded a Preliminary Commendation in 1936 to a plant from Lord Aberconway's collection, with a subsequent Award of Merit in 1937, and a First Class Certificate was awarded in 1944 for sprays exhibited by J. Coutts of Woking.

In the wild in its native Korea, Abeliophyllum is close to extinction and qualifies for the IUCN Category of 'Critically Endangered', indicating a high risk of extinction in the near future.

Cultivation

Abeliophyllum distichum is easy to grow in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It prefers full sun but tolerates light shade, and it will tolerate some drought but not wet conditions.

Prune immediately after flowering because flower buds for the following year will form on the current year's growth. To control and maintain an attractive shape, either cut the oldest one third of the branches down to the base of the plant annually, or cut the entire plant down nearly to the ground every 3 to 5 years.

This plant as no serious insect or disease problems.

Propagation

Propogation is easy by taking greenwood or semi-ripe cuttings, or by layering, in summer.