Eggleaf Silktassel
(Garrya ovata)
Eggleaf Silktassel (Garrya ovata)
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© Michelle W.
CC BY 4.0
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© Michelle W.
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CC BY 4.0
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Photo by: © Michelle W. | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Uploader: pufferchung | Publisher: iNaturalist |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Garrya ovata, commonly known as Eggleaf Silktassel, is an evergreen shrub native to chaparral, mixed forests, and riparian zones in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It typically grows 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) tall and wide, with a dense, rounded form. The leaves are distinctive, being thick, leathery, and ovate, up to 10 cm (4 in) long. They are tomentose (covered with fine hairs) on both sides when young, becoming smooth on the upper surface but remaining tomentose beneath as they mature. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish, and borne in pendulous racemes that can add a subtle ornamental value. It blooms from March through May, and the fruits that follow are dark blue, spherical, and up to 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter.
Eggleaf Silktassel is valued for its drought tolerance and evergreen foliage, which provides year-round interest in the garden. It is used in urban landscaping, as a screen or hedge, and in naturalistic plantings. It thrives with minimal care, requiring low amounts of water once established, and is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It prefers full sun to part shade. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to scale insects and root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Eggleaf Silktassel is valued for its drought tolerance and evergreen foliage, which provides year-round interest in the garden. It is used in urban landscaping, as a screen or hedge, and in naturalistic plantings. It thrives with minimal care, requiring low amounts of water once established, and is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It prefers full sun to part shade. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to scale insects and root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Width: 5-6 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Green
- Flowering Season: Winter, Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Native to chaparral, mixed forests, and riparian zones in the southwestern United States and Mexico
Other Names
Common Names: Mexican Silktassel, Eggleaf Garrya
Scientific Names: , Garrya ovata, Fadyenia ovata,
GBIF Accepted Name: Garrya ovata Benth.