Garrya fremontii

Common Names

Bearbrush, Fremont Silktassel, Fever Bush, California Fever Bush, Quinine Bush

Summary

Fremont's silktassel is an evergreen shrub native to the West Coast, typically 5–15 ft tall and 8–10 ft wide, with opposite, simple, leathery leaves that are light yellow-green above and paler beneath. It features dense pendulous catkins in winter and spring, with male and female flowers on separate plants; catkins reach about 2 inches in length, and fruits are purple berries.

Preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, it is drought-tolerant once established and hardy to USDA zones 6a–9b, suitable as a specimen, hedge, or screen and offering winter and year-round interest from yellow-green new foliage and showy hanging blooms. Propagation is by seed—best sown when ripe with cold-frame stratification, germination taking 2+ years—or by cuttings from half-ripe wood in August or mature wood in December–January; root crowns can resprout after wildfire.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-15 feet

Spread

8-10 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Yellowish to pinkish

Bloom Time

Spring and Winter

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Root crown sprouting

Attracts Wildlife

Birds: Yes — provides cover for various birds; fruit eaten by birds