item_content
Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'
2 litre pot 20cm
in stock
<UL><li><b>Position:</b> full sun or partial shade<LI><B>Soil:</b> moderately-fertile, well-drained soil<LI><B>Rate of growth:</b> average<LI><B>Flowering period:</b> December to February<li><b>Hardiness:</b> frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas)<br><br>Long, silvery catkins up to 20cm long, shine out among glossy, wavy-edged, dark green leaves throughout winter. The silken tassels of this upright, evergreen shrub make a stunning feature in the winter garden. Try it towards the back of a sunny, shrub border, against a wall or as a windbreak in coastal areas. When it has finished its display, the dark foliage makes a lovely foil for summer-flowering shrubs.<br><br><LI><B>Garden care:</b> Cut back dead or straggly branches in April or May.</li></ul>
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately-fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: December to February
- Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas)
Long, silvery catkins up to 20cm long, shine out among glossy, wavy-edged, dark green leaves throughout winter. The silken tassels of this upright, evergreen shrub make a stunning feature in the winter garden. Try it towards the back of a sunny, shrub border, against a wall or as a windbreak in coastal areas. When it has finished its display, the dark foliage makes a lovely foil for summer-flowering shrubs. - Garden care: Cut back dead or straggly branches in April or May.
Eventual height & spread
"Offers great architectural interest for the back of the border where its long flower tassels look elegant, especially when covered in frost"
Goes well with
Cistus × purpureus
£12.99Escallonia Apple Blossom
£12.99Philadelphus Belle Etoile
£12.99Myrtus communis
£14.99REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsCrocusGarrya elliptica 'James Roof'
(based on 4 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Healthy (4)
- Accurate instructions (3)
- Attractive (3)
- Hardy (3)
Cons
No Cons
Best Uses
- Garden (3)
Reviewed by 4 customers
Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
- Healthy
Cons
Best Uses
- Garden
Comments about Garrya elliptica 'James Roof':
I bought one 2 years ago which died over winter despite following the instructions. This one has overwintered very well putting on much new growth. I'm excitedly awaiting the first catkins!
- Your Gardening Experience:
- Experienced
Pros
- Accurate Instructions
- Attractive
- Hardy
- Healthy
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Garrya elliptica 'James Roof':
I would not usually use an on-line supplier to purchase plants but Crocus have proved reliable in terms of quality, packaging and plant quality on each and every occasion
- Your Gardening Experience:
- Experienced
Pros
- Accurate Instructions
- Attractive
- Hardy
- Healthy
Cons
Best Uses
- Garden
- Outdoors
Comments about Garrya elliptica 'James Roof':
An attractive plant and a good companion to others.This plant has settled into its planting position well and will be a very good addition to our plantings
- Your Gardening Experience:
- Experienced
Pros
- Accurate Instructions
- Attractive
- Hardy
- Healthy
Cons
Best Uses
- Garden
Comments about Garrya elliptica 'James Roof':
It is still very young but has a mass of as yet (December) unopened catkins. It i still only about a metre tall so does not dominate
- Your Gardening Experience:
- Experienced
Displaying reviews 1-4
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If so, click on the button and fill in the box below. We will post the question on the website, together with your alias (bunnykins, digger1, plantdotty etc etc) and where you are from (Sunningdale/Glasgow etc). We'll also post the answer to your question!18 Questions | 20 Answers
Displaying questions 1-10Previous | Next »
Q:
Hi. I live in Southern Scotland and have an exposed windy west facing site. I have used your plant selector to sub select 'exposed to winds' and it has come up with this plant. When I look at the RHS website it says that this plant is prone to wind scorch. Please can you advise because it could be a costly mistake!!!Asked on 21/4/2017 by Newbie from Moffat, Scotland1 answer
A:
Hello,
This is a bit trickier than it sounds as while it can be used as a windbreak in milder coastal areas, it is not fully hardy so will need protection in colder areas. Therefore, I doubt it would be ideal for your exposed garden in Scotland.Answered on 26/4/2017 by Helen from crocus
Q:
I have a Garrya planted approx 1 ft from my boundary and it has been there 20 years or so and is approx 3m high but my neighbor is going to build an extension on his side of the boundary and I'm worried about the roots getting damaged. Do the roots spread widely and if they do will the plant die off if they are damaged?Asked on 10/10/2016 by WilfMcGrew from London1 answer
A:
Hello there
Unfortunately it is hard to say how far the roots will have spread, as roots will naturally go towards available water and don't spread evenly. Whether the plant will die, this it really depends on how much of the root system is damaged.Answered on 12/10/2016 by Anonymous from crocus
Q:
hi could i grow this in a large pot in a coastal south facing garden up the front wall of a garage? does it need support to climb or is it self attaching?Asked on 9/4/2016 by Vicky from United Kingdom1 answer
A:
Hello,
These plants are not suited to very exposed coastal gardens, however if you are set back a little, or have a very sheltered garden, then you may get away with it. Ideally however (as they get pretty big), they should be planted out into the ground where their roots can spread out and grow. Finally, these are shrubby plants, so if you want them to grow flat against a wall, their stems will need to be tied onto support of some kind.Answered on 11/4/2016 by Helen from crocus
Q:
I am trying to find a nice plant to cover a wall by my front door. One that can be neatly grown around a gas meter box. Either planted in a pot or in the ground. The ground is heavy clay and it is west facing covering a wall area of 3.5 meters by 2.5 meters approx.
Any suggestions? I was thinking of putting a large trough or plant some plants into pots around it.Asked on 19/10/2015 by Val from Farnham1 answer
A:
Hello there
A Garrya would be lovely grown against a wall. It will tolerate a clay soil and likes a west facing aspect, but if possible I would grow it in the ground as this is quite a large shrub.
Hope this helps.Answered on 21/10/2015 by Anonymous from crocus
Q:
If I let Garrya Elliptica grow to 4m, against a fence, (for privacy) will it look unkempt or straggly? Does it need to be pruned, or is it ok without it?
Also, when the tassels fade, do they turn brown and remain on the bush for a long time, or do they drop off after they have faded?
Also, do the catkins drop off whole, or do they crumble? I am wondering how much of a mess it makes when they fall off.
Thank you.Asked on 23/6/2015 by br from london1 answer
A:
Hello,
These make very handsome wall shrubs, particularly if they are given a little formative pruning. For best results cut way any outward facing stems when you plant it, leaving just one or two stems that will create a permanent framework. These remaining stems can then be tied onto a support - ie. trellis panel or wires.
Then as the plant grows, you can pinch out the growing tips of any outward-facing shoots as this will encourage side branching, or remove badly placed branches to their base in early spring. Lanky lateral growth can be trimmed back, again to encourage bushy new growth, which can be tied onto the support as it grows.
As for the catkins, they do turn brown as they mature and do remain on the plant until they become almost crispy. At that point they can either crumble entirely, or fall off in one piece.Answered on 25/6/2015 by Helen from crocus
Q:
I have a garrya elliptica which has never produced tassels in the five years I have had it growing on a north facing wall. I have never pruned it and it is growing quite well but is straggly. Will it ever produce tassels?Asked on 8/3/2015 by Chris from Essex on Suffolk, Cambridge border1 answer
A:
Hello there
Given the right conditions it should produce tassels, you could always try and give it a push by feeding through the growing season with a high potash feed.
You can give it a light trim to remove any dead and straggly branches in April or May.
Hope this helps.Answered on 10/3/2015 by Anonymous from crocus
Q:
Can I grow garrya elliptica in a pot?Asked on 8/1/2014 by Beck from Norwich1 answer
A:
Hello there
You could try growing it in a really large pot, but it would need to be well watered and fed. Ideally it is better to grow it in the ground, as this large shrub could grow to 4m x 4m eventually.
Hope this helpsAnswered on 13/1/2014 by Anonymous from Crocus
Q:
Winter flowering shrubs and climbers to plant with new hedge
Hello, I have newly planted a hedge (made up from Hornbeam, Rosa rugosa, Blackthorn, Cornus, Hawthorn and Hazel) about 50ft long. I have been told that if I was to plant amongst the hedge some winter flowering Clematis such as 'Wisley Cream' it would give some nice colour these bleak winter months when the hedge is bare of foliage. The hedge is south facing and although the ground is ???good??? heavy Cambridgeshire clay the hedge has been planted in a trench back filled with leaf mulch, chipped wood and spent peat. Although I have said about in-planting Clematis in the hedge, I am open to other plant suggestions if you have any. Regards TerryAsked on 31/12/2009 by Terry Allum1 answer
A:
Hello Terry, If you click on the following link it will take you to all our winter flowering climbers - of which the Jasminum is tougher and more like a shrub. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/plcid.15/vid.204/ Alternatively, this link will take you to all our winter flowering shrubs. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.204/ I hope this helps. Helen Plant DoctorAnswered on 5/1/2010 by Crocus Helpdesk
Q:
Clay loving evergreen plant for covering a wall
Sir, I need to hide an ugly brick wall. I would prefer to have all year cover, meaning evergreen, and not over 6` or so tall, and able to thrive in my clay rich soil. I thought of a blue lilac but am not sure if the roots could cope. A variety of plants might look nice and would breakup the monotony of the wall, but your advice would be much appreciated. Sincerely, Dorothy.Asked on 17/12/2009 by dorothy1 answer
A:
Hello Dorothy, There are several plants you could consider, including the Ceanothus if your soil is not too heavy. Alternatively any of the following would work well Aucuba http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.aucuba/ Elaeagnus x ebbingei http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/elaeagnus-%C3%97-ebbingei-/classid.3772/ Garrya http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/garrya-elliptica-james-roof/classid.3880/ Pyracantha http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.pyracantha/ I hope this gives you a few ideas. Helen Plant DoctorAnswered on 17/12/2009 by Crocus Helpdesk
Q:
Plant to cover a fence
Please can you suggest a shrub/tree that could be grown as an espalier on a new 2 metre close boarded fence, facing East by North-it gets a good few hours of sun in the morning. I need to cover about 10 to 12 feet in width, and the plant would need to be planted close to one end of the fence. (The fence borders a paved area leading into a border.) I would hope to start with something already fairly well grown if possible. Many thanksAsked on 6/12/2009 by Rita Ireland2 answers
A:
Hello There, The best options would be one of the following
Chaenomeles http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.chaenomeles/
Pyracantha http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.pyracantha/
or Garrya http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/garrya-elliptica-james-roof/classid.3880 Unfortunately though we only sell the sizes listed on our site and none of them will have been trained into an espalier. I hope this helps. Helen Plant DoctorAnswered on 8/12/2009 by Rita IrelandA:
Dear Helen, Thank you for the reply. I had been thinking about Pyracantha so you have confirmed that this would be suitable.Answered on 8/12/2009 by Crocus Helpdesk
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Crocus response:Thanks for your feedback, and yes, as these are not quite fully hardy, they prefer a sheltered spot. They may also need a little protection in winter - particularly if it is a harsh one.