Seasonal Wild Flowers

Silk-tassel

Garrya elliptica

Garryaceae

December to March

The garden plant is found throughout the country.

Naturalised escapes may occur in the South.

See the BSBI distribution map for Silk-tassel

It is widely planted in gardens, parks and public amenity

areas.

It is found in relict gardens and other abandoned areas.

There are a few reports of it being naturalised in the

South.

It is a small evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 3m.

The male flowers are long, greyish green, catkins.

Female plants have insignificant flowers and often are

not planted.

Leaves are dark green, shiny on the upper surface

and greyer (glaucous) on the lower surface.

Male bush with tassels

Tassels

Close-up of unopen tassels

Close-up of male flowers with stamens

Leaves and immature catkins in September