Garrya elliptica Dougl. ex Lindl.

Common name(s): Coast Silk-Tassel, Silk Tassel Bush, Wavyleaf Silktassel

Family: Garryaceae
Print
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 14th January, 2014 at Mount Gambier, South Australia
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence_male
Inflorescence (Male)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence_female
Inflorescence (Female)
Taken by Unkown
Expand all
Plant Properties
Origin(s)
United States
  • Cal.: Indigenous
  • Oregon: Indigenous
Plant Type
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm
Temperate Warm
Climate Range(s) - Tolerance
Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Littoral, Heath
Forest - Littoral,
Heath
Habitat Zone(s)
Forest Margins, Coastal margins, Dry areas, Exposed, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Ridges, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Well drained
Forest Margins,
Coastal margins,
Dry areas,
Exposed,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Ridges,
Rocky,
Sandy Moist,
Well drained
Mature Height
2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m, 4-5m
2-2.5m,
2.5-3m,
3-4m,
4-5m
Mature Width
2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m
2-2.5m,
2.5-3m,
3-4m
Plant Shape
Bun - Broad
Bun - Broad
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad
Bun - Broad Bun - Broad,
Domed - Broad Domed - Broad
Growth Rate
Moderate
Moderate
Maturity
14-16 yrs, 16-18 yrs, 18-20 yrs
14-16 yrs,
16-18 yrs,
18-20 yrs
Life Span
75-100yrs.
75-100yrs.
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Glossy, Grey-green
Glossy,
Grey-green
Colour (back)
Grey-green
Grey-green
Shape(s)
Obovate
Obovate
Oval
Oval
Obovate Obovate,
Oval Oval
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Leathery
Leathery
Leathery Leathery
Texture (back)
Leathery
Leathery
Pubescent
Pubescent
Leathery Leathery,
Pubescent Pubescent
Slightly
Slightly
Leaf Length(s)
60-70mm, 70-80mm
60-70mm,
70-80mm
Leaf Width(s)
30-40mm, 40-50mm
30-40mm,
40-50mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Undulate
Undulate
Entire Entire,
Undulate Undulate
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Green , Green-grey
Green,
Green-grey
Colour(s) Lower
Green-grey
Green-grey
Texture(s) Upper
Smooth
Smooth
Smooth Smooth
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Flower Properties
Gender: Male
Time(s)
Winter Late - Spring Early
Flower Colour(s)
Grey-green
Grey-green
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Time(s)
Winter Late - Spring Early
Flower Colour(s)
Silver-grey
Silver-grey
Fruit Properties
Type
Bacca
Bacca
Bacca Bacca
Outer Colour(s)
Purple-grey, Purple-black
Purple-grey,
Purple-black
Outer Texture
Pubescent
Pubescent
Aroma
None
None
Season of Fruiting
Summer
Summer
Fruit Ripening
2 mths., 3 mths.
2 mths.,
3 mths.
Maturation for Fruiting
2 yrs., 3 yrs.
2 yrs.,
3 yrs.
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Plate
Plate
Fibrous Fibrous,
Plate Plate
Invasiveness
Low
Low
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist - Dry
Moist - Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist - Dry Moist - Dry
Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight-Moderate
Slight-Moderate
Slight-Moderate Slight-Moderate
Waterlogging Class
None
None
Watering Requirements
WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Fruit, Habitat
Fruit,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Poor
Poor
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Light
Light
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Maintenance(s)
Prune - After Flowering, Pruning - Formative, Pruning - Shaping
Prune - After Flowering,
Pruning - Formative,
Pruning - Shaping
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Park land, Garden-Modern, Garden-Heath, Garden-Sensory, Garden-Bonsai, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Espalier, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Woodland, Hedge-informal, Sand Binder, Screen, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares, Windbreak
Garden-Park land,
Garden-Modern,
Garden-Heath,
Garden-Sensory,
Garden-Bonsai,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Cottage,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Desert,
Garden-Espalier,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Rock,
Garden-Woodland,
Hedge-informal,
Sand Binder,
Screen,
Soil Binder,
Specimen,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares,
Windbreak
Fertilising Requirements
FR5, FR6, FR11
FR5,
FR6,
FR11
Wind Tolerance
Strong Winds
Strong Winds

General Notes

An interesting shrub with long, showy catkins providing an eye-catching decoration for the shrub in the winter. Ideal as a specimen, screen, wind break, informal hedge or espalier.

Some cultivars are available

  • Garrya elleptica 'James Roof', male cultivar,catkins 300mm long, silver grey, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit
  • Garrya elleptica 'Evie', male cultivar, catkins 250mm long, white catkins