Coast silk-tassel Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Coast silk-tassel

Scientific classification
Genus:	Garrya
Species:	elliptica

Natural range

The Garrya elliptica, also known as the coast silk-tassel or wavyleaf silktassel, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Garryaceae family. This plant naturally grows in the coastal areas of California and southern Oregon. It is a tall, bushy evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 to 5 meters (6.5 to 16 feet) tall.

About the Coast Silk-tassel Plant
Where the Plant Lives
Growing Coast Silk-tassel
What's in a Name?
Images for kids
See also

About the Coast Silk-tassel Plant

How it Looks and Grows

The coast silk-tassel plant often grows into a round shape. It has many branches. In the wild, it usually reaches about 3 meters (10 feet) tall. Like other plants in its group, G. elliptica has opposite leaves. This means two leaves grow from the same spot on the stem, facing each other. The leaves feel tough and leathery. They are shiny green on top and a lighter, duller green underneath.

Unique Flowers

This plant has separate male and female plants. This is called being dioecious. The flowers grow in long, hanging clusters called aments. These clusters are about 4 to 6 centimeters (1.5 to 2.3 inches) long.

The male plants have much showier flower clusters. They are grey-green and can be up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. The female clusters are shorter and silver-grey. The flowers bloom in late winter and early spring. Even after blooming, dried parts of the flowers stay on the plant. They look like light gray decorations until summer.

The plant's bark is smooth and dark greenish when it is young. As it gets older, the bark becomes rougher. New twigs are green and quite strong. The female flowers produce tiny dark seeds. The ripe fruit is purplish-black and about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) wide. It has a hard outer layer but is soft inside. A special type of this plant, called 'James Roof', has very long flower clusters, up to 30 centimeters (12 inches).

Distinctive Leaves

Wavy leaf margins

The leaves of Garrya elliptica are very special. They are waxy and curve outwards, like a dome. Their edges are wavy. The underside of the leaves has tiny hairs. These hairs are so small you can barely see them without a magnifying glass.

The leaves are about 6 to 8 centimeters (2.3 to 3.1 inches) long. Their stems, called petioles, are 6 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. Another similar plant is the Congdon silk-tassel (Garrya congdonii). It has similar leaves, but its leaf hairs are easier to see. Also, its leaves and leaf stems are about two-thirds the size of the coast silk-tassel's. Other types, like Fremont silk-tassel (Garrya fremontii) and ashy silk-tassel (Garrya flavescens), have flat leaf edges.

Where the Plant Lives

Garrya elliptica grows in several different plant areas. It is mainly found in dry coastal parts of California and southern Oregon. It usually grows within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the Pacific Ocean. You can find it in areas like coastal sage and chaparral, Northern coastal scrub, and mixed evergreen coastal forests.

This plant can grow in heavy clay soils and special serpentine areas. It prefers soils with a pH between six and eight. Deer and rabbits do not eat this plant much. It can handle cold temperatures down to about -9 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit). It can also handle some dry weather. However, it grows best with about 63 centimeters (25 inches) of rain each year. This plant is usually found at heights above 200 meters (650 feet). It grows in the mountains of the Pacific Coast range, such as Montara Mountain and San Bruno Mountain.

Growing Coast Silk-tassel

The Garrya elliptica is a popular ornamental plant. People like to use it in gardens because it grows neatly. It is easy to care for and can grow in many places. You often see it growing against a wall or used as a windbreak in coastal areas. A specific type, called 'James Roof', has even won an award from the Royal Horticultural Society.

What's in a Name?

The name Garrya comes from Nicholas Garry. He was a secretary for the Hudson's Bay Company around the 1820s to 1830s. The word Elliptica comes from Greek. It means 'oblong with rounded ends' or 'elliptic'. This describes the shape of the plant's leaves.