Genus
Forsythia
16 US plant patents have been granted in this genus. 9 are already in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell them. The next of the 7 still protected comes off patent on October 10, 2026.
Still under patent — 7 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- MindorPP19321Forsythia plant named ‘Mindor’UNDER PATENTOctober 10, 2026
- Minfor6PP24361Forsythia plant named ‘Minfor6’UNDER PATENTNovember 23, 2031
- NimbusPP23838Forsythia plant named ‘Nimbus’UNDER PATENTJanuary 5, 2032
- BJ2013PP30146Forsythia plant named ‘BJ2013’UNDER PATENTAugust 3, 2037
- MNICH01PP32114Forsythia plant named ‘MNICH01’UNDER PATENTDecember 3, 2039
- UMNFOR01PP35518Forsythia plant named ‘UMNFOR01’UNDER PATENTApril 4, 2042
- DiscoveryPP35765Forsythia plant named ‘Discovery’UNDER PATENTMarch 17, 2043
Already in the public domain — 9 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- McKCitrinePP16464Forsythia plant named ‘McKCitrine’PUBLIC DOMAINDecember 9, 2024
- CourdijauPP13050Forsythia plant named ‘Courdijau’PUBLIC DOMAINJanuary 18, 2021
- Princeton GoldPP11055Forsythia hybrid plant named `Princeton Gold`PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 22, 2017
- CourtasolPP9104Forsythia plant -- Courtasol varietyPUBLIC DOMAINApril 11, 2014
- FiestaPP7523Forsythia plant named `Fiesta`PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 10, 2009
- Tinkle BellsPP7575Forsythia cv. `Tinkle Bells`PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 21, 2008
- Fairy-LandPP7533Forsythia plant named `Fairy-Land`PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 16, 2008
- Lemon-ScreenPP7535Forsythia cv. `Lemon-Screen`PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 16, 2008
- Pygmy-RedPP7583Forsythia plant named `Pygmy-Red`PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 16, 2008
A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name comes with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked, so they are always free to use. What it does not free is any brand name the plant is marketed under. Those are trademarks and renew indefinitely.