Story-telling is a fantastic way to engage customers’ interest and encourage them to stop and buy. With Forsythia you have fantastic stories to go with a beautiful plant – one that is looking at its best right now and has all the ‘wow’ factor that makes it a brilliant impulse purchase.
To begin with stories, how about the folkloric background to Forsythia? Traditionally considered a herald of spring, Forsythia is said to be a symbol of ‘good nature, innocence, and anticipation’. Korean legend states that this flower depicts the rejuvenation of love – maybe just the thing for a Mother’s Day promo?
Then there is the botanical story: Forsythia was introduced to our western shores in the 19th century from Japan by William Forsyth, a Scottish botanist and a founding member of the RHS. Some customers may be interested to know that Bruce Forsyth traced his family tree back on a recent television program and found he was related to William!
The shrub is native to China and Korea, as well as Japan. However, it really took off in popularity when Robert Fortune introduced the Chinese species in 1833.
In the West the plant is grown for its flowers but it has been an essential ingredient in Chinese medicine for centuries. The Chinese used the fruit of the Forsythia for all sorts of remedies but mainly those for all kinds of ‘overheating’ for example: inflammation and swelling, fever, flu, swollen glands, boils, carbuncles and mastitis.
Some key points for boosting sales:
- Great for container-growing, but equally can be trained on a trellis or allowed to run free
- Low maintenance and hardy
- Reliable yellow flowers in spring, followed by gorgeous foliage
- Useful for screening, shading or windbreaks
- Happy in most garden soils, likes full sun or dappled shade
Pick of the bunch
Forsythia ‘Beatrix Farrand’
Forsythia suspensa (Golden bell) RHS AGM
Fosythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood’ RHS AGM
Source: Colour your life
