SafePlants

Garrya congdonii: Chaparral Silktassel

Considerations for Pets

• Contains an alkaloid called Garanine.
• Extremely bitter.

Considerations for Children

• Contains an alkaloid called Garanine.
• Extremely bitter.

Common Names

• Congdon silktassel
• Chaparral silktassel
• Coast silktassel

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Garrya congdonii Eastw.
• Family: Garryaceae (Silk Tassel Family)
• Genus: Garrya
• Synonyms:
  • Garrya congdonii Eastw.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Mexico, the western United States, Central America and the Greater Antilles.
• Specifically found in the northern California Coast Ranges and southern Oregon and Northern California’s coastal chaparral.
• Grows on dry slopes in chaparral, central and southern oak woodlands from Baja to San Luis Obispo along the coast and up to about 7000 ft.
• Found in chaparral, foothill woodland and montane coniferous forest to about 7500'.
• Thrives in shady environments including northern and sand dunes, coastal bluffs, forest edges.
• California Desert slopes, chaparral, pine-oak woodland communities.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Evergreen shrub.
• Perennial duration (grows year after year).
• Slow to start, but establishes itself.
• Yellow or grey wood color stems.

Ecological Role

• Found in Chaparral plant communities ("short woody vegetation").
• Part of the green 'tangles' of plants that compose California and Oregon's coastal chaparral.
• Important to Livestock and Wildlife
• Plant species found in a given area will vary depending on the length of the fire.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Livestock in Arizona chaparral prefer Wright silktassel over many other shrub species.

Further Information

• Discover Life: biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution.
• Seeds of Success: An interagency program coordinated though the Bureau of Land Management and the Plant Conservation Alliance.