Forsythias for flower and foliage

The standard forsythia is the belle of the ball in spring, with its bold burst of yellow flowers. But it can be boring the rest of the year, hogging the dance floor with somewhat humdrum foliage. Varieties with variegated leaves keep the party going after their blooms fade. ‘Fiesta’ is a compact forsythia (about 3 feet tall to 4 feet wide) whose green leaves have buttery-yellow centers. The leaves of ‘Golden Times’ have green centers trimmed in bright yellow. The variety known as ‘Kumson’ could easily have been named ‘Wow’. Sporting dark green leaves with a dramatic network of white veins, it would turn heads even if it never flowered. Plant it in a semi-shady location and prepare for the paparazzi.

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