Garrya buxifolia
Boxleaf silk tassel
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Family: Garryaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Garrya buxifolia (Boxleaf silk tassel) is a native California shrub in the Garryaceae family, recognized by fruit hairiness and leaf hair texture.
Boxleaf silk tassel is a California native shrub found in northwestern California in chaparral and yellow-pine forest at elevations of 150 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces discrete flowers in characteristic silk tassel-like clusters. Growing as a compact shrub less than 3 meters tall with dense, somewhat rigid branching, it develops a distinctive form in its native habitats. Its leaves are ovate to obovate-elliptic, 14 to 66 millimeters long, with dense grayish-white hairs on the underside and flat margins that give the foliage a textured, compact appearance. The plant produces glabrous fruits that complement its dense, structural growth habit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are fruit hairiness and leaf hair texture
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral to yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 150-2100 m
California counties: Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lake, Placer, San Bernardino
Outside California: western Oregon
Bloom period
Garrya buxifolia blooms Feb-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Garrya has opposite leaves and hanging catkins; Quercus has alternate leaves and acorns.; vs Arctostaphylos: Garrya has opposite leaves; Arctostaphylos has alternate leaves and smooth red bark.; vs Lonicera: Garrya has long drooping catkins; Lonicera has tubular flowers in pairs or clusters.; vs Simmondsia: Garrya has drooping catkins several inches long; Simmondsia has tiny inconspicuous flowers.; vs Rhus: Garrya has opposite simple leaves; Rhus has alternate compound leaves with multiple leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Garrya buxifolia native to California?
Yes. Garrya buxifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Garrya buxifolia bloom?
Garrya buxifolia blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Garrya buxifolia grow?
Garrya buxifolia occurs in Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lake, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 150-2100 m.
What plant family does Garrya buxifolia belong to?
Garrya buxifolia is in the Garryaceae family, genus Garrya.
What habitat does Garrya buxifolia grow in?
Garrya buxifolia grows in Chaparral to yellow-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.