Images Depict Mature Plants
Show Off Starlet® Forsythia
Forsythia x 'Minfor6' PP24361
I love Show Off Starlet® because it gives you that classic forsythia “spring fireworks” without the classic forsythia sprawl—bright yellow flowers packed along the stems, a tidy dwarf size, and a deer-resistant attitude that makes it easier to trust in real landscapes. Prune it right after bloom, give it sun, and it’ll show up every spring like a little burst of sunshine right where you want it.
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Show Off Starlet® Forsythia With Dwarf Size And Bright Yellow Early Spring Flowers
Dwarf Forsythia That Delivers Wall-To-Wall Yellow Blooms
Show Off Starlet® Forsythia is the spring “spark” shrub for gardeners who want that classic forsythia glow—without giving up half the yard. In early spring, branches fill with bright yellow flowers from base to tip, creating a saturated burst of color when most landscapes are still waking up. It’s the kind of bloom display that reads from the street, brightens gray-season days, and instantly makes beds look intentional and alive.
Because it’s compact, you can place it where big forsythias never fit: near an entry, along a walkway, in a mixed border, or right up front in a foundation bed where the flowers can be enjoyed up close. It also plays beautifully with early bulbs and spring perennials, acting like a sunny backdrop for daffodils, tulips, hellebores, and emerging ornamental grasses. If you want “first big color of the year” in a shrub that stays manageable, Starlet is a smart, space-saving win.
Compact Habit For Small Gardens, Front Beds, And Low Hedges
This is a true dwarf forsythia, typically topping out around 2–3 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, with a neat, upright-to-mounded form that stays dense. That size makes it ideal for smaller landscapes and tighter bed lines where standard forsythia would sprawl and swallow neighboring plants. The shrub’s naturally full branching also helps it look good without constant shaping—especially important in high-visibility spots like front-yard beds.
Use Show Off Starlet® as a low flowering hedge, a repeating border plant, or a bright punctuation mark at corners and transitions. It’s also a great candidate for massing: three to five plants planted in a drift create a clean “golden cloud” effect in spring, then settle into a tidy green shrub for the rest of the season. When you want a spring-flowering shrub that behaves—no giant footprint, no awkward gaps—this one fits the plan.
Deer-Resistant Spring Color With Tough, Adaptable Performance
Show Off Starlet® is a deer-resistant forsythia, which makes it especially valuable in landscapes where browsing pressure is common. It’s also broadly adaptable to typical garden soils as long as drainage is reasonable, and it performs well in full sun to partial sun. In most gardens, more sun equals stronger flowering, but it can still provide good spring color with a bit of shade, making it easier to place than many “must-be-full-sun” bloom shrubs.
Once established, it’s a low-maintenance shrub that doesn’t ask for much beyond consistent watering in the first season and during prolonged dry spells. Add a mulch ring to stabilize moisture, and you’ll support healthier branching and better bloom density the following spring. Starlet is also a fun “experience” plant: cut a few branches in late winter, bring them indoors, and force them to bloom in a vase for instant spring cheer—one more reason this compact forsythia earns its keep.
Easy Pruning When You Follow The One Rule That Protects Flowers
Forsythia blooms on old wood, which means next spring’s flowers form on the growth made this year. That’s why timing matters: prune Show Off Starlet® in late spring, right after flowering, not in late winter. Pruning too late in the season can remove the buds you’re counting on for next year’s show. Keep the routine simple—light shaping after bloom and occasional renewal to maintain vigor.
For best results, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base every couple of years to encourage fresh, flower-producing growth. If you’re maintaining a low hedge, do a gentle trim right after bloom, keeping the top slightly narrower than the base so sunlight reaches lower branches. Done this way, Starlet stays dense, blooms heavily, and keeps that crisp dwarf form without turning into a twiggy, flowerless shrub.
| Hardiness Zone: | 5-8 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 2 to 3 Feet |
| Mature Width: | 2 to 3 Feet |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to partial sun |
| Bloom Time / Color | Early spring; bright yellow flowers |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in late spring after flowering |
| Soil Condition: | Any well-drained soil; adaptable |
| Water Requirement: | Water well until established, then moderate |
| Wildlife Value | Early-season nectar source when in bloom |
| Resistance (deer/disease/drought/etc.) | Deer resistant; tolerant once established |
| Landscape Uses | Foundation beds, borders, low hedges, mass plantings, specimen accents, cut branches for forcing |
How to Care for Show Off Starlet® Forsythia
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Show Off Starlet® Forsythia plant for years to come!
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How should I plant Show Off Starlet® Forsythia?
Plant Show Off Starlet® Forsythia in full sun to partial sun in well-drained soil. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, set the shrub so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil, then backfill and water deeply to settle roots. If your soil is very sandy, mix in compost to help retain moisture; if it’s heavy clay, loosen the surrounding area to improve rooting and drainage. Finish with a 2–3 inch mulch ring to stabilize moisture and temperature, keeping mulch a few inches away from the stems. Space plants with the mature width in mind so the shrub can stay full and bloom from base to tip without being crowded by neighbors.
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How often should I water Show Off Starlet® Forsythia after planting?
For the first 2–3 weeks, water every 2–3 days so the root zone stays evenly moist (not soggy). After that, transition to deep watering about once per week, increasing to once or twice weekly during hot, dry weather. A slow soak at the base is best because it encourages deeper roots and stronger establishment. Once established, Show Off Starlet® is typically comfortable with moderate watering, but it will flower and leaf out better when it doesn’t get drought-stressed the previous summer. During prolonged dry spells, a deep weekly soak helps keep growth vigorous—important because this year’s growth is what carries next spring’s bloom buds.
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When should I fertilize Show Off Starlet® Forsythia?
Fertilize in early spring as new growth begins using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. This supports healthy branching and leaf growth without pushing overly soft, floppy shoots. If your soil is already reasonably fertile, an annual top-dressing of compost plus refreshed mulch can be enough to keep the plant thriving. Avoid heavy fertilizing late in summer, which can encourage tender growth at the wrong time. If you’re growing Starlet as a low hedge, moderate spring feeding combined with consistent moisture will help the plant fill in evenly and bloom more uniformly the following spring.
When and how should I prune Show Off Starlet® Forsythia?
Prune Show Off Starlet® Forsythia in late spring, right after it finishes flowering. This is the single most important timing rule because forsythia blooms on old wood, and pruning later can remove next spring’s flower buds. Start by removing dead or damaged branches, then do light shaping to maintain the compact form. Every couple of years, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base to renew the plant and encourage vigorous new shoots that bloom well. If you’re keeping a low hedge, trim gently after bloom and keep the base slightly wider than the top so sunlight reaches lower branches and the shrub stays full.
