McKCitrine Citrus Swizzle® Citrus Swizzle® Dwarf Forsythia

Citrus Swizzle® is the trade name for the compact greenstem forsythia cultivar ‘McKCitrine’, selected at [McKay Nursery](https://www.mckaynursery.com/forsythia-citrus-swizzle). Its changing foliage emerges lime green with chartreuse variegation, matures to green with creamy-white margins, and can take on burgundy or mauve tones in fall. The plant also produces small yellow flowers in early spring, though flowering may be light in some climates. ## Size and placement Plan for roughly 18–24 inches of height and spread. Plant in full sun or part shade at an edging, border, or mass planting where the variegated leaves remain visible. The documented hardiness ranges vary slightly among sellers; USDA Zones 4–9 covers the broader published range. The [Nature Hills profile](https://naturehills.com/products/forsythia-citrus-swizzle) lists 18–24 inch dimensions, moderate moisture, and early-spring bloom. The plant patent is recorded as PP16,464, issued April 18, 2006, in this [patent listing](https://patents.justia.com/patents-by-us-classification/PLT/230). NC State’s [J.C. Raulston Arboretum record](https://jcra.ncsu.edu/horticulture/our-plants/results.php?search=citrus) identifies it as a deciduous shrub. ## Maintenance Citrus Swizzle is slow growing and usually needs little pruning. If shaping is needed, prune just after flowering. Water regularly while establishing, then adjust to local soil and rainfall; avoid keeping the root zone waterlogged.