NICE! Plant of the Month
(Garrya lindheimeri)
Family: Garryaceae (Silk tassel family)
Other Common Names: Lindheimer Silk tassel, Eggleaf Silk tassel
Type: Evergreen shrub
Natural Habitat: Rocky limestone hills and canyons in Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, under-story habitat.
Growth: dense, fast growing 5-11 feet in width and height
Deer Resistance: Generally avoided by deer, dependent on local conditions
Wildlife: Attracts birds
Light Tolerance: sun / partial sun
Flowers: Male and female light green flowers borne on separate plants in early spring (March and April)
Bloom Period: March and April
Fruit: Dark purple or blue
Leaves: Thick, leathery, dark green, oval
Water Requirements: low water requirement once established
Soil Requirements: Alkaline adaptable, well drained
Planting Instructions: Space plants 5 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: One of the few native evergreen shrubs. It can serve as the preferred native to non-native Buford Holly and Ligustrum. Mexican Silk-tassel can serve well as a screen against the north winds in the winter or be a nice understory plant on a rocky slope.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
