Gold Tide® Forsythia
Forsythia 'Courtasol'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Preorder Shipping Schedule
We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.
| Zone 3-4 | Week of March 30th |
| Zone 5 | Week of March 16th |
| Zone 6-12 | Week of March 2nd |
Shipping Rates
Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Description
Gleaming spring delights, the Gold Tide® Forsythia (Forsythia 'Courtasol') is a dwarf, deciduous ornamental shrub that gleams with golden yellow flowers in the early spring. The earliest emerging pollinators will adore these blooms as much as you will! Can’t wait? Snip a few stems in the winter to force in a vase for bright color in floral arrangements to break up the winter doldrums.
Your Gold Tide® Forsythia bursts into spring with a "gold tide" of yellow brilliance so early in the season that its foliage still hasn't appeared. The diminutive, bell-shaped flowers create quite a show as they appear in abundance amid the bare branches. Ovate, green leaves will soon fill out your Gold Tide® for summer, so it presents a pleasing appearance throughout the season!
With its compact, spreading shape, your Gold Tide® Forsythia typically grows low to the ground but spreads to an attractive, mounded form. Growing vigorously throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 8, this dwarf space-saving shrub grows just 24-30 inches tall and spreads to a 4-foot wide.
Planting and Application:
Beautiful if left to grow naturally, but is easy to prune if you prefer to take a hand in its shaping. This means more time for you, so put away those shears and put your feet up instead! Create lovely facer plantings and add pops of color to your foundation plantings and cottage borders! You'll love the low property definition and spectacular low hedge in front of taller perennials.
These Dwarf Forsythia are fantastic for mass plantings and on slopes and hillsides, both for erosion control and to make a hard-to-mow hill into a spring spectacle! It is naturally very compact and self-branching so is a perfect focal point for a smaller garden too! Add pops of color in the spring in key locations around your property to call attention and boost curb appeal!
Versatile Gold Tide® can be grown in outdoor pots on a sunny deck or balcony. Give it regular water to add lavish color and privacy to your small space garden, porch, and patio, or even the dramatic feature in a container garden!
Plant three in an informal triangle for a natural look. Underplant with spring-flowering bulbs to amplify the springtime impact, then layer in smaller shrubs like Goldflame Spirea and Invincibelle Limetta® Hydrangea for summer color.
- Brilliant Golden Flowers in Early Spring
- Dwarf Forsythia
- Deep Green Leaves Cloak Each Branch for Summer
- Great Compact Form Develops Naturally
- Fabulous Specimen & Accents, Low Hedges, Slopes & Facer Shrubs
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Forsythia shrubs grow best in full sun, and well-drained soil that sheds water quickly after a rainfall. If needed, mound up an elevated planting site with additional soil 18 inches high by three feet wide and plant in that mound. Apply a medium amount of water on a regular basis. Keep container plants well-hydrated, as well. Providing a good layer of mulch will help keep the root system cool and moist.
Prune right after flowering is done. Every so often, prune the largest, thickest canes out at ground level to keep your shrub rejuvenated and healthy. Deer don't prefer the taste. However, deer are hungry and curious. Apply repellent when you plant, and reapply according to label directions.
- Full Sun For The Most Blooms
- Any Well-Drained Soil - Flourishes in Alkaline Conditions
- Moderate Moisture Needs & Appreciates Mulched Beds
- Very Little Pruning Needed - But Trim After Flowering
- Disease Resistant, Easy Care, Adaptable & Hardy
Buy enough to line your walk or fill that bare spot in your garden. Order your sweet and petite Gold Tide® Forsythia bushes from Nature Hills Nursery today!
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Cultivar
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Height
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Bloom PeriodEarly Spring
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT, PR
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