Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'

This is arguably one of the most important plants at Rosemoor as it grows against the Visitor Centre wall to either side of the main entrance, and is, therefore, one of the first plants our visitors see. The exceptionally long and decorative catkins are a wonderfully welcoming sight on a cold winter's morning.

Vital statistics

Common name

Silk-tassel bush

Family

Garryaceae

Height & spread

4m (12ft) x 4m (12ft)

Form

Evergreen shrub

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile

Aspect

Full sun to partial shade

Hardiness

Frost hardy (may even tolerate temperatures down to -10ºC/14ºF)

Garrya

This genus contains about 13 species of evergreen shrubs or small trees, found in woodland in western USA, Central America and the West Indies. They are valued for their leathery leaves and pendant catkins.
Male and female, petalless flowers are borne on separate plants, from winter to early summer, in the form of catkins. The females produce purple brown berries, however the male catkins are more attractive.
Garrya may be grown in a shrub border, against a wall and they are well suited to coastal conditions and tolerate pollution.
This genus was named for Nicholas Garry, Secretary of the Hudson’s Bay Company who assisted David Douglas in his explorations of the Pacific North-West in the 1820s.

Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'

This species is an upright, evergreen shrub with glossy, oval, grey-green to matt green leaves, with wavy margins, a dense woolly coating underneath, and up to 8cm (3in) long. The name elliptica means elliptic, referring to the shape of the leaves.
The male catkins are grey-green, pendant, 15-20cm (6-8in) long and produced from winter to spring.
The female shrubs produce smaller catkins and abundant clusters of oval-shaped dark purple fruit.
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ is a male form with dark, sea-green, slightly larger leaves and silver-grey catkins up to 20cm (8in) long.

Cultivation

• Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Garrya elliptica prefers a sheltered, sunny spot, but can cope with a wide range of soils, coastal conditions and pollution.
• Avoid transplanting.
• Pruning, if needed, should be done in mid spring to remove shoots that spoil symmetry or dead and damaged growth.
• Susceptible to fungal leaf spot.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or sow seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring.

AGM