Forsythia Show Off® Sugar Baby®

Vibrant early spring color on a pint-size Forsythia that festoons its branches from top to bottom with flowers means Forsythia Show Off® Sugar Baby® is a dynamic addition to any garden. The bright yellow blossoms are followed by dark green foliage. Surround this standout with spring-flowering bulbs, and use it to bring fabulous color to the early border or to create a low hedge. A Proven Winners®/Color Choice® variety. 'NIMBUS' PP 23,838

It is impossible to live in a northern climate and be unfamiliar with Forsythia. The durability, vigor, and abundant yellow flowers of this early bloomer make it one of the most popular and important ornamental plants known. Forsythia is a vigorous grower in all but damp soils (which it doesn't like), and it can get out of control if left to its own devices. But a touch of pruning, best done right after flowering to preserve the next year's buds, produces a satisfactory form for practically any location. Snip a few arching sprays for forcing in early spring, and you'll never notice the difference. Underplanted with spring-flowering bulbs, Forsythia can and should be a highlight in the spring garden. It harbors no pests. Deer resistant.

For more information on growing and care, click on Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: for-sih'thee-uh  

The cheerful yellow blossoms covering Forsythia's bare stems are a welcome harbinger of spring, and burgundy-red fall color is another plus. A loose, arching habit suits Forsythia for informal shrub borders, hedges and banks, while the low-growing varieties are splendid ground covers. Reinforce that spring color with spring bulbs, such as Scilla or Crocus. The stems of Forsythia can be cut in late January or February and forced indoors.

Light: Full sun.

Soil: Average garden soil.

Watering: The key to getting your new shrub or tree off to a good start is moisture. Water thoroughly after planting, and keep a close eye on the plant over the following week. Then, give it a good soaking once a week during summer, unless rainfall is plentiful (more than 1″ per week). Established plants can generally get by on less water, but most grow best if the soil remains evenly moist. Please note that more is not better—when in doubt, don't water.

Fertilizer: We recommend against fertilizing at planting time and during the first growing season in your garden. Plants need time to settle in before being pushed to grow. Most established plants grow best if fertilized with a light hand. Here at the Farm, we fertilize our specimen trees and shrubs just once, in early spring, with a light but even coverage of a balanced, granular fertilizer (such 5-10-10, 10-10-10, or an organic fertilizer). If a concentrated, water-soluble fertilizer is used, please follow the manufacturer's recommendations carefully.

Continuing Care: Vigorous and easy to grow. Late frosts may damage flower buds. For established plants, cut ⅕ to ⅓ of the old canes to the base after flowering to promote new growth and keep shrub in bounds. Forsythia is rarely troubled by insects or diseases.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].