from The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
The following table gives times to bloom for forcing branches of local trees and shrubs when cut at various dates.
| Plant name | Days to Bloom if cut on … | Normal Bloom time |
Expect |
| 1/28 | 2/15 | 3/15 | |||
| Abeliophyllum distichum – White forsythia | 20 | 15 | 5 | April 5 | Flowers |
| Acer palmatum & japonicum – Japanese Maple | – | 20 | 10 | April 5 | Flowers/leaves |
| Acer rubrum – Swamp or Red Maple | 20 | 10 | 6 | April 5 | Flowers/leaves |
| Amelanchier arborea – Serviceberry, Shadbush | 25 | 20 | 15 | April 15 | Flowers |
| Berberis spp. – Barberry | – | 15 | 7 | May | Flowers/leaves |
| Betula spp. – Birches | 20 | 15 | 5 | March 25 | Leaves |
| *Cercis canadensis – Redbud | – | 20 | 13 | May 5 | Flowers |
| Chaenomeles speciosa – Flowering Quince | 25 | 20 | 10 | April 20 | Flowers |
| *Cornus florida – Dogwood | – | – | 22 | May 15 | Flowers |
| Cornus mas – Cornelian Cherry Dogwood | 20 | 10 | 5 | March 25 | Flowers |
| Corylopsis glabrescens – Fragrant Winterhazel | 20 | 10 | 5 | April 5 | Flowers |
| Forsythia x intermedia – Forsythia | 20 | 10 | 5 | April 5-15 | Flowers |
| Hamamelis x intermedia – Witchhazel | 3-7 | 1-3 | – | Feb.-Mar. | Flowers |
| Jasminum nudiflorum – Winter Jasmine | 10 | 5 | – | Feb.-Mar. | Flowers |
| Lonicera fragrantissima – Winter Honeysuckle | 25 | 15 | 5 | March 25 | Flowers |
| Magnolia stellata – Star Magnolia | – | 15 | 7 | April 15 | Flowers |
| Magnolia x soulangiana – Saucer Magnolia | – | 15 | 7 | April 15 | Flowers |
| Mahonia bealei – Leatherleaf Mahonia | – | 20 | 7 | March 25 | Flowers |
| Malus hybrids – Crabapples | – | 30 | 20 | April 25 | Flowers |
| Pieris japonica – Japanese Andromeda | 20 | 14 | 7 | April 15 | Flowers |
| Prunus spp. & hybrids – Ornamental Cherries | 25 | 18 | 10 | April 20 | Flowers |
| Pryrus calleryana – Callery Pear | – | 20 | 10 | April 15 | Flowers |
| Rhododendron mucronulatum – Korean Rhododendron | – | 20 | 5 | March 25 | Flowers |
| Spirea prunifolia – Prumleaf Spirea | – | 22 | 12 | April 15 | Flowers |
| *Syringa vulgaris – Common Lilac | – | – | 20 | May | Flowers/leaves |
| *Viburnum carlesii – Koreanspice Viburnum | – | 20 | 7 | April 20 | Flowers |
| *Weigela floribunda – Weigelia – 25 15 May 10 Flowers | – | 25 | 15 | May 10 | Flowers |
*These may be more difficult to force. Keep humidity high by missing daily and/or cover branches with a plastic bag.
Cut branches should be soaked for a few hours to overnight in warm water. The easiest way to do this is to lay branches in a bathtub. Place branches in a clean container and fill with warm water, adding a floral preservative to keep prevent bacteria from forming. About every fifth day, thoroughly clean container, fill with fresh water and give the branches a new cut before placing them in the water. To clean the container, fill with warm water and ¬Ω cup of bleach. Let the container soak about one hour, drain and rinse well before refilling.
The closer you get to the normal bloom time the faster the branches force. Please note that in warm years, plants will force much easier than in really cold winters. The number of days given is an approximation and length of time may vary.