F. europaea is a shrub,[6] and can grow up to 10 ft (3 m) tall.[7] Its leaves are 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in length, and are generally entire (smooth edged).[8] It produces numerous yellow flowers,[5] which are 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter.[7]
The shrub produces prolonged elliptical fruit capsules that grow to 5.4−6.0 mm by 1.8−2.2 mm. The fruit capsules have a fine granulate, slightly lustrous, glabrous, gold-yellow to brown appearance.[9]
F. europaea was first cultivated in 1899, at Kew Gardens in London, United Kingdom.[7] It is not as widely cultivated as other species of Forsythia as it is not as ornamental,[6] although it is still occasionally grown in parks and gardens.[6][11]
Cultivars produced by hybridisation of F. europaea with F. ovata, a more ornamental species of Forsythia native to Korea,[12] include:
Forsythia 'Meadowlark', which was developed at North Dakota State University.[13] It produces deep-yellow flowers from its third year onwards,[14] the buds of which are hardy to −35 °F (−37 °C).[15] Its leaves are ivy-green.[14]
Forsythia 'Northern Sun', which was developed at the University of Minnesota.[13] It grows 10 ft (3 m) tall and 8 ft (2.4 m) wide.[16] Plants produce large, gold-coloured flowers,[16] the buds of which are hardy to −30 °F (−34 °C).[15]