Golden Peep Forsythia

Golden Peep is the trade name for the compact forsythia cultivar ‘Courdijau’. Its wide, low branches carry abundant yellow flowers in spring, making it a useful choice where a standard upright forsythia would take too much height. [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/forsythia-x-intermedia-courdijau-forsythia) identifies the trade name and its low, spreading form. ## Size and placement The cultivar spreads more than it rises. The patent records lightly pruned plants at about 2.9 feet tall and 3.9 feet wide at 12 years, and about 3.3 feet tall and 4.9 feet wide at 16 years. Allow room for this broad footprint along a sunny or partly shaded border, slope, or container planting. The patent reports good performance in full sun or semi-shade and prefers soil that does not become exceedingly dry. The listed hardiness range is USDA Zones 5–8. See the [Courdijau plant patent](https://www.hort.net/pedia/patent/grant/13050/) and [Sooner Plant Farm listing](https://www.soonerplantfarm.com/plant/forsythia-golden-peep). ## Maintenance This slow-growing cultivar requires little shaping. If pruning is needed to control its spread, prune after flowering so the spring display is not removed before it opens.