Garrya congdonii
Chaparral silktassel
(c) Melanie J. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Garryaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Garrya congdonii (Chaparral silktassel) is a native California shrub / tree in the Garryaceae family, recognized by fine wavy leaf hairs and wavy margins.
Chaparral silktassel is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the northern Sierra Nevada, northern central Sierra Nevada, and San Francisco Bay Area in chaparral habitats at elevations of 180 to 750 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces flowers in distinctive silky, pendulous clusters. Growing to less than 3 meters tall with dense, wavy branches, it forms a compact shrub with intricate branching. Its leaves are ovate to obovate-elliptic, 15 to 70 millimeters long, with flat to wavy margins and dense, fine, appressed hairs on the lower leaf surface. The fruit is covered in dense, soft hairs, giving the plant its characteristic silky appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are fine wavy leaf hairs and wavy margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral
Elevation: 180-750 m
California counties: Mariposa, Tehama, Napa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Stanislaus, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Monterey, Marin, Sonoma, San Benito, Santa Clara, Shasta, Yolo
Bloom period
Garrya congdonii 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 congdonii native to California?
Yes. Garrya congdonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Garrya congdonii bloom?
Garrya congdonii blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Garrya congdonii grow?
Garrya congdonii occurs in Mariposa, Tehama, Napa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Stanislaus, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 180-750 m.
What plant family does Garrya congdonii belong to?
Garrya congdonii is in the Garryaceae family, genus Garrya.
What habitat does Garrya congdonii grow in?
Garrya congdonii grows in Chaparral.
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.