Coast Silk Tassel
Garrya elliptica
Silk Tassel Family (Garryaceae)
Native
Key Identifying Characteristics
A large, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and chains of flowers that hang down like tassels.
Similar To
Garrya (Silk Tassel) and Manzanita Arctostaphylos ssp. are often mistaken for one another due to the superficial similarities of their overall stature and sclerophyllous (hard, leathery and evergreen) leaves. The easiest way to tell them apart is that leaves are opposite in Garrya and alternate in Arctostaphylos. Also, Garrya has wavy leaf margins that are often revolute (rolled under) and inflorescences that are catkins.
Height / Size
Grows from 7 to 20 feet tall.
Leaves
Leathery, opposite, evergreen leaves are shiny on top and paler underneath. Leaf margins are wavy and often curl under.
Flower
Male and female flowers in catkins on separate plants (dioecious). Female catkins are thicker and shorter, and silver-grey in color. Male catkins cascade down like a silk tassel, are grey-green in color and can be more than 8 inches long.
Bloom Time: December to January
Fruit / Seed
The plant produces small dark seeds. The ripened purplish black fruit of about 1/2 inch in diameter and has a hard desiccated coating, but is fleshy on the inside.
Habitat
Maritime chaparral, coastal scrub, sand dunes, rocky coastal bluffs and headlands, foothill-pine woodland.
Location / Range
Brooks Creek Trail, Montara Mountain Trail, Hazelnut Trail, and Visitors Center. Native to coastal California and southern Oregon.
Lifespan
Can live for 50 years or more.
Fascinating / Fun Facts
Also known as Silk Tassel, Coast Silktassel, and Wavyleaf Silktassel.
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