Garrya James Roof
Intro saratoga horticultural foundation.
Garrya james roof. You should expect a mature height of around 12 and a similar spread in a garden situation in southern california. Plant in well draining soil and add some supplemental water. Look out for jane s roof a. In winter it is lit up by pendant silvery tassel like male catkins 8 in.
Tassels dry and abort the plant by late spring then. The royal horticultural society has given it its prestigious award of garden merit agm. If the plant is in an exposed spot it can damage the leaves as you will see in the image left where some of the leaves have been browned by a severe winter. Hardy to usda zone 8 native to the coast range and near the pacific ocean from southwest oregon to southern california.
Origin cuttings 19 by james roof prairie creek state park humboldt co. Noted for its long silvery catkins garrya elliptica james roof silk tassel is a large vigorous bushy evergreen shrub clothed in leathery wavy edged dark green leaves. A favourite winter flowering plant is garrya elliptica or silktassel bush. Garrya elliptica james roof is the most popular variety because its tassels are much longer than the species up to 30cm long and lasting for many weeks making a striking backdrop to other smaller plants.
The catkin like tassels on james roof can be up to 35 cms making an impressive winter show. Flowers male in drooping grey green catkins to 20cm in length. Prune immediately after flowering. Amazing 1 long silver gray tassels from late fall last through winter.
It s native to california and oregon and is one of 13 species in the genus garrya. Genus garrya are vigorous evergreen dioecious shrubs with simple leathery leaves and small greenish flowers in pendent catkin like racemes in late winter and early spring details james roof is a large vigorous bushy evergreen shrub with leathery dark green leaves. If the shrub is damaged in a bad winter you can prune out the browned leaves. Long 20 cm dangling like christmas decorations.
The two most popular cultivars are both male james roof and evie evie has a denser look than james roof garrya elliptica like many california natives is drought tolerant and must have good drainage especially when planted in heavy clay soil. A few male cultivars with especially long tassels are available james roof 30 cm evie 25 cm.