What Is the Difference Between Forsythia viridissima and Winter Jasmine? A Quick Guide to Telling Them Apart

Forsythia viridissima, also known as Tu lianqiao, is a deciduous shrub that combines ornamental and medicinal value. Winter jasmine, also known as Qingming flower and small yellow flower, is collectively called one of the Four Friends in the Snow together with plum blossom, narcissus and camellia, and has high ornamental value. So what is the difference between Forsythia viridissima and winter jasmine?

1. What is the difference between Forsythia viridissima and winter jasmine?

Difference 1: Different family and genus

Forsythia viridissima belongs to the Oleaceae family, Forsythia genus, and is a deciduous shrub; winter jasmine belongs to the Oleaceae family, Jasminum genus, and is a deciduous shrub.

Difference 2: Different appearance

Forsythia viridissima branches are upright or drooping, and the leaves are relatively large, ranging from ovate to long elliptic, with neat serrations on the upper half and entire margins on the lower half. The leaves are simple and opposite. The flowers are golden yellow, and the petals are relatively wide; winter jasmine branches are slender and grow in an arching form. The leaves are trifoliate compound leaves, opposite, with smaller leaves, ovate-elliptic, entire margins, and narrow, abruptly pointed tips. The flowers are solitary, yellow, salverform, and grow in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches.

Difference 3: Different petals

Each flower of Forsythia viridissima has only 4 petals, and the branches stand upright, with the flowers generally opening downward; each flower of winter jasmine has 6 petal segments, and the branches droop.

Difference 4: Different flowering period

The flowering period of Forsythia viridissima is March to April; the flowering period of winter jasmine is February to April.

Difference 5: Different uses

Forsythia viridissima has relatively high landscaping value and ornamental value, and its fruit also has medicinal value; winter jasmine is mainly used for greenery or flower viewing, and its flowers and leaves also have medicinal value. Winter jasmine does not bear fruit.

2. How do you grow winter jasmine?

1. Soil. Winter jasmine requires loose, fertile soil with good drainage. Also make sure the soil is acidic; it grows poorly in alkaline soil.

2. Watering. Winter jasmine likes a moist environment. Water more before and after flowering to keep the soil moist, generally watering 1 to 3 times. Water more before the rainy season, and try not to water on cloudy or rainy days. Do not fertilize during the growing season, and water immediately after regular fertilizing. After the Start of Autumn, do not water in order to prevent the branches from growing excessively, which would prevent it from overwintering safely.

3. Light. Around the Spring Festival, move winter jasmine indoors for care. Keep the room temperature at around 15°C, and flowers can be seen after 15 days. When the summer sun is scorching and the temperature is relatively high, move the winter jasmine pot to a semi-shaded place, which is beneficial to its growth.

4. Fertilizing. When growing it in a pot, place a few pieces of hoof parings in the pot as base fertilizer. Or, when mixing the flower soil, add a small amount of organic fertilizer. During the growing season of winter jasmine, apply 1 to 2 times a month of thoroughly decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer. July to August is the flower bud differentiation period of winter jasmine, so more phosphorus fertilizer should be applied to promote flower bud differentiation. In the early flowering stage, apply once a thoroughly decomposed organic liquid fertilizer, which can ensure the winter jasmine flowers are brightly colored and can extend the flowering period.