What’s Blooming Now?

Coast Silk Tassel (Garrya elliptica) is a native, evergreen shrub that can grow well in most parts of Portola Valley.  Its common name alludes to its signature feature—long tassels of pale green flowers that cascade down from the ends of branches in winter.  Silky hairs on the tassels shine when they catch sunlight, so the shrub is especially striking when planted against a darker backdrop of taller trees.  Flowering is typically in January and lasts a couple of months. 

To fully appreciate this plant, you need to look closely at the tassels.  Each individual plant is either male or female.  Male tassels are much longer and showier than female tassels, and most of the plants available in nurseries are male.  Two cultivars with very showy tassels are generally easy to locate: ‘James Roof’ (pictured here) and ‘Evie’.   

Silk Tassel requires little care and grows at a moderate rate to about 12 feet tall by 10 feet wide. It can grow well in full sun if water is seasonally available, such as near drainages or with some irrigation, or in part shade, such as at the edges of woodlands. It requires little maintenance in terms of pruning or litter cleanup, and is moderately deer resistant.  It is attractive to bees and butterflies.

This distinctive shrub is native to the Coast Range from southwest Oregon to southern California.  Nonetheless it might look unfamiliar to you because naturally growing individuals are uncommon in our area. 

Calscape is a great place to learn about native plants and where to buy them.

Brought to you by The Conservation Committee