Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Garrya x issaquahensis 'Carl English'
Carl English Silk Tassel
- Family
- Garryaceae
- Height
- 6 to 10 feet
- Width
- 6 to 8 feet
- Flower color
- Soft gray catkins with greenish-purple tones
- Foliage color
- Evergreen, glossy green
- Bloom time
- Winter
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate, but tolerates dry conditions in summer
- Maintenance
- Low, prefers well-drained soil
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 6 to 9
- Wildlife
- Provides shelter for birds and other small animals
About this plant
Garrya × issaquahensis 'Carl English' is an elegant evergreen shrub that showcases cascading tassel-like catkins in late winter to early spring. These silken catkins, often pale yellow-green to soft gray, add visual interest to gardens during the colder months. The shrub's glossy, deep green foliage complements its understated blooms, making it an excellent choice for year-round garden appeal.
This hybrid is a cross between plants native to the coastal regions of California and southern Oregon. 'Carl English' is valued for its hardiness and graceful, architectural form. It performs well as a hedge or screen, thriving in sheltered spots with good drainage.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Coastal Gardens · Native Gardens · Winter Interest
Companion plants
Yarrow · Oregon grape · Coreopsis · Blanket flower · Phlox · Bulgarian honey garlic
Design tip
The graceful architectural form makes ‘Carl English’ especially useful where evergreen structure is needed year-round. Allow its natural outline to remain relatively informal, so the cascading winter catkins can soften boundaries and screens without losing their distinctive character.
