Garrya

Garrya is a genus of flowering plants in the family Garryaceae. The genus comprises evergreen shrubs and small trees native to western North America, particularly Mexico and the southwestern United States. These plants are characterized by their drooping, catkin-like flower clusters, which are often pendulous and display a range of colors from white to greenish-yellow or reddish-purple. The foliage is typically leathery and ovate to lanceolate in shape. Garrya species are often dioecious, meaning that individual plants bear either male or female flowers.

The common name "silk tassel bush" is frequently applied to plants in this genus, owing to the appearance of their inflorescences. They are generally hardy plants, adapted to dry, well-drained soils and often found in chaparral, woodlands, and rocky slopes. Several species are cultivated for ornamental purposes, valued for their attractive winter or early spring blooms and their evergreen foliage, which provides year-round interest. Popular garden species include Garrya elliptica, known for its long, graceful tassels, and Garrya fremontii. Their ecological role includes providing habitat and food for various wildlife.