Back in December the forum provided an answer to a thorny question (an Elm tree).
Now I have another weird plant. This bush is at the Comox Rec Center on Noel Ave. Approaching from the street side and to the right at the bottom of the steps. I thought it might be a Pieris but leaves are darker. Or maybe a Mahonia but clusters hang not point up. I touched one of the dangling flower clusters and was instantly pollinated with bright yellow powder.
Thanks for your guidance.
Margaret
We’ve forwarded your question off to the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners. Thanks!
Many thanks to Milner Gardens & Woodland’s Gardening Advice line (a partnership between Vancouver Island University’s Milner Gardens & Woodland and the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association) for the following response:
Thank you for your question and the great photos, which were very helpful for identification. Your mystery plant appears to be Garrya eliptica (GAR-ee-ah), commonly called Silk Tassel Bush. It gets its common name from the masses of long, showy catkins that start developing in the fall and come in to full bloom in late winter. Its native range is from Oregon to southern California but as you’ve discovered, it can grow well on Vancouver Island due to mild winters and dry summers.
The Silk Tassel Bush is quite tolerant to drought once established, needs very little pruning and deer don’t bother with it much. The evergreen leaves, its medium size (8-16ft) and winter flowers that you’ve discovered are all things that make this plant a nice feature in the winter.
If you’re interested in growing one of these beauties, choose a place in sun to part shade in a well-drained and somewhat protected spot. It will enjoy moderate watering but doesn’t do well in standing wet soil. Male plants have longer catkins (4-12”) and, if a male plant is present, the females develop grape-like clusters of purplish-grey fruits in summer.
Sources
Thank you, on behalf of Margaret. It’s really useful to have so much information about this plant.
