Common Name: Lian Qiao

General Information

Forsythia suspensa is a deciduous shrub with slender, spreading or weeping branches; it usually grows up to 3 metres tall, though it can be much taller when scrambling up rocks and walls.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated for its medicinal properties and is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

Leaves contain the glycoside Phillyrin[], its potency is unknown.

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - eastern and central China.

Habitat

Thickets or grassy areas on slopes, valleys and gullies; at elevations from 300 - 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Forsythia suspensa is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures falling to around -25°c[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in all soil types[] but prefers a rich soil. Succeeds in limey soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. It prefers a sunny position but succeeds in semi shade though it is apt to get leggy if grown in the shade of trees[]. Succeeds against a north-facing wall[].
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[]. The flowers are produced quite early in the year and are frost-resistant[]. Plants are medium to fast growing[].
Flowers are produced on wood that is more than one year old[]. Any pruning is best done after the plant has finished flowering[].
A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[].
This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[, , ]. Some caution is advised due to the presence of a glycoside[]. The leaves are rich in rutin[].

Medicinal

Lian Qiao has been used in Chinese herbalism for over 4,000 years and is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[]. A bitter tasting pungent herb with an antiseptic effect, it is chiefly used to treat boils, carbuncles, mumps and infected neck glands[].

The fruit is a bitter astringent herb that stimulates the heart, nervous system and gall bladder[]. It contains vitamin P, which is used to strengthen capillaries[] (Vitamin P is an old term for a group of flavonoids, which include rutin). The fruit is also antidote, antiphlogistic, antitussive, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative and tonic[, , , , , , ]. It is used internally in the treatment of acute infectious diseases such as mumps, and also for tonsillitis, urinary tract infections allergic rashes etc[].
The fruit is harvested when fully ripe and is dried for use in decoctions[].
The plant has a similar action to Lonicera japonica and is usually used in combination with that species to achieve a stronger action[].

The flowers have a broad-spectrum antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, haemolytic streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Bacillus typhi, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc[].

The plant is vermifuge, though the part used is not stated[, , , ].

The leaves are febrifuge and are also poulticed onto ulcerated glands and haemorrhoids[]. A decoction of the leaves and twigs is used in the treatment of breast cancer[].

The root is used in the treatment of cancer, colds, fever and jaundice[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The sub-species Forsythia suspensa sieboldii is a lax grower that roots freely where the branches touch the ground. It makes a very good tall ground cover when planted about 2.5 metres apart each way[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates within 2 months[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 15cm taken at a node, mid summer in a frame. Plant out in autumn or spring. A very high percentage, they root within 3 weeks[].
Cuttings of mature wood in a sheltered outdoor bed. Good percentage[].
Layering in spring or summer. Plants often self-layer[].