Stachyurus praecox
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- stak-EE-yoor-us PRAY-koks
- Description
-
Stachyurus praecox, or Stachyurus, is a deciduous, flowering shrub, typically growing to 4 to 6 feet and sometimes reaching 10 feet high. Plants in this genus are sometimes commonly called spiketail, in reference to the flowers. The plant is known for its colorful late winter to early spring flowers that bloom before the foliage emerges. Flower buds form in autumn and overwinter on the plant in pendant, catkin-like racemes that hang from the leaf axils. Flowers bloom in late March through April and make a great cut flower. This shrub has an open, upright, arching-spreading habit. Foliage may turn rosy red and yellow in fall.
Stachyurus grows best in light, humusy, acidic, moist but well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. You cannot depend on the plant to withstand a cold winter, thus you should site it in protected, southern locations sheltered from cold, drying winter winds. Unprotected flower buds can be damaged by frost. Shrubs flower on old wood, so prune in early spring immediately after flowering. Remove flower shoots to the base on mature plants.
Disease, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No known problems, except that, as described above, the plant is not winter hardy.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Carolina Parakeet'
- var. matsuzakii
- 'Carolina Parakeet'
- 'Carolina Parakeet', var. matsuzakii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carolina Parakeet'
- var. matsuzakii
- 'Carolina Parakeet'
- 'Carolina Parakeet', var. matsuzakii
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stachyurus
- Species:
- praecox
- Family:
- Stachyuraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Broad
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Small greenish, yellow-red checkered berry-like fruit.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Purple buds, pale yellow flowers on 2 to 4 inch raceme in March and April. Each flowering raceme has 10-20 tiny, bell-shaped, 4-petaled, yellow-green flowers (3/ 8 of an inch across).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lustrous dark green leaves, 3 to 7 inches long, orange to red fall and winter color. During the growing season, red-brown to chestnut-brown branches support ovate, tapered, serrate, medium green leaves (to 7 inches long).
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Purplish-brown stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
