I have some growing in containers in shade. They are pretty neglected - last summer, I just stuck some good-sized sprouts in pots to temporarily mask the AC unit - and they leafed out again this year. Not sure if it's the same for everybody, but in my yard, forsythia is almost a weed - seems to sprout and thrive anywhere it lands.

It's been my experience that they will grow in shade, but don't bloom.

i have lots of 70+ year old forsynthias that have been shaded over the years

they are very effective for erosion and nothing eats them. nothing kills them

they bloom but not as heavily as those in the sun

it would be a good , fairly cheap plant to choose

I have several 4 year old cuttings (now over 5 ft tall) under oak and maple on heavily wooded lot. They get the early spring sun before all the leaves come back and bloom wonderfully. During the summer they thrive. Had I listened to anyone about forsythia in shade, I wouldn't have cuttings from my husband's childhood home. Moral: don't always listen to everything that is preached, try it for yourself! Suz

good advice ! be it about plants ,,or people !!!

It's hard to find a spot where Forsythia won't grow and spread like a weed.

They do. This was one at my old house, which got very little sun. (I never watered it or fertilized it, either.)