Garrya elliptica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Garrya lindleyana
- Phonetic Spelling
- GAR-ree-uh ee-LIP-tih-kuh
- Description
-
Silk tassel bush is a flowering evergreen shrub in the Garryaceae family that is known for its showy cascading flowers. It is native to the coastal ranges in California and Oregon but its neat attractive growing habit makes it appealing as a landscape plant. It is commonly used as a hedge and has a moderate to fast growth rate. Although the flowers bloom in January and February, dried leaves remain on the tree well into summer as light gray decorations. The plant has smooth dark bark, dark-greenish when young, but with age the bark roughens. New twigs are green and moderately stout. 'James Roof' is one popular horticultural variety known for its especially long tassels. Prune immediately after flowering. Resistant to damage by deer.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Winter-Spring, Feb-May Foliage: Summer Bark: Winter
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'James Root'
Especially long flowers
- 'James Root'
- 'James Root'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'James Root'
Especially long flowers
- 'James Root'
- 'James Root'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Garrya
- Species:
- elliptica
- Family:
- Garryaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The Yurok Native American tribe would use tools made from this wood to scrape mussels off of rocks.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to coastal ranges in California and Oregon
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Buffer
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 7 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Grape-like clusters fruits are 6 mm wide, starting out green and then turning pubescent with purple-gray hairs.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Doecious flowers are concentrated in flower clusters which cascade downward as aments of approximately four to six centimeters in length. While the Coast silk-tassel manifests separate male and female plants, the pendant male catkins are much showier and are grey-green and up to 30 centimeters long; the female ones are shorter and silver-grey. Flowers appear in winter.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, elliptical to ovate leaves that have a tough leathery feel, glossy green on top, but paler and duller, hairy on the underside. The petiole is grooved and flattened above, stout.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth dark bark gets more rough with age.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Orange green leathery brown
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
