Bush flier

GARRYA is a broad evergreen bush with oval leathery leaves which are glossy on the upperside and woolly grey beneath. Originating from California and Oregon, it is also known as the Silk Tassel Bush because of the cascades of long silvery grey-green catkins that hang from the branches for weeks in late winter and early spring. Female plants have insignificant flowers on short catkins so it is the showier males that are usually grown with Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' having the longest catkins - up to 40cm long. This variety grows up to 4m high with a similar spread, is the most popular of the Garrya family and is likely to be the only one on sale in the garden centre. Rarer ones such as Garrya issaquahensis 'Pat Ballard' with purplish catkins, Garrya fremontii with twisted leaves and small catkins and Garrya x thuretii will have to be sought from specialist nurseries.

Garrya is a tough plant that will grow in most well drained soils even if they are poor and dry or chalky, and is happy in sun or partial shade. In cold regions it is best grown as a wall shrub against a south or west-facing wall where the catkins will be protected from frost.

A sheltered wall will also protect the leaves from cold winter winds, which can cause leaf fall leaving the plant defoliated until new growth appears in spring. The leaves sometimes drop after planting but they will be replaced in time. Fasten it loosely to thick wire or strong trellis and cut back dead and unwanted branches in spring when necessary.

Garrya dislikes being transplanted and should be left alone apart from occasional pruning once it is established. Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer and planted in a cold frame or from hardwood cuttings taken in October or November and planted in a cold frame or in the open ground.

Topical Tip

OTHER shrubs carrying catkins include our native hazel Corylus avellana and its varieties 'Aurea' and 'Contorta'. 'Aurea' has large round or oval yellow leaves which are brighter in sun and which darken as they mature with long, yellow catkins on older plants in late winter and spring.

'Contorta', or corkscrew hazel, has twisted stems covered in yellow catkins in spring. Corylus maxima or Filbert, which is grown for its nuts, has larger catkins that C.avallana and the variety 'Pupurea' has purple leaves and catkins.

All the hazels are deciduous and are good for exposed sites where they will survive in well-drained soil and sun or partial shade.

Weekend catch-up

GRASSES, both in pots and in the garden, should be tidied up soon - the dead leaves begin to look untidy by the end of the winter and once new growth begins it is a tedious job extracting them from around the fresh shoots.

Prune back all the old growth at soil level and pull up any weeds that have been hiding amongst the dead foliage. New shoots will soon emerge to fill the empty space. If the grasses are in pots, small spring bulbs like crocus and snowdrops can be planted to give early colour. Pots of ready-grown bulbs should be available now from nurseries and garden centres.

Seed offer

MARSHALLS of Wisbech has introduced a new beetroot from Italy in its 2003 seed catalogue. The globe-shaped roots of 'Chioggia' are the usual red on the outside but reveal contrasting red and white rings in the flesh when cut.

A standard pack of 'Chioggia' costs £1.50 and contains enough seed for a 14ft row, but the company is offering a trial size pack to readers for 50p.

Richard Massey of Marshalls says:

" 'Chioggia' looks attractive and has a sweet flavour. And it is a dual-purpose vegetable because the young leaves can be used raw in salads while the mature leaves can be cooked as spinach."

Beetroot does well in most soils except those that have been freshly manured because this can cause the roots to fork. Successive sowings can be made through spring and summer.

To claim your trial pack of 'Chioggia', send 50p to SE Marshall and Co Ltd, Beetroot Offer, FREEPOST PE787, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2WE.

Updated: 17:11 Friday, January 24, 2003