Plant Data Sheet: Fremont Silktassel (Garrya fremontii)

Range

Fremont silktassel occurs in Washington, Oregon, and California. It is distributed along the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, and in the Klamath Mountains and Coast Ranges from Josephine and Jackson counties, Oregon south to Monterey County, California. In the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada, it occurs from from Lane County, Oregon south to Madera County, California. (2)

Climate, elevation

Fremont silktassel grows in a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
Fremont silktassel occurs from 2,500 to 7,000 feet. (2)

Local occurrence

It is distributed along the Columbia River in Washington, more abundant and/or less threatened than previously assumed. Fremont silktassel usually occurs as scattered individuals throughout
the chaparral zone. (2)

Habitat preferences

Habitat topography includes rocky slopes, rolling hills, or steep canyons. (2)

Plant strategy type/successional stage

Fremont silktassel is found in all stages of succession.
The plant is a sprouting survivor in initial and early seral communities. It is shade tolerant and persists until late seral stages in foothill woodland and forest communities. Fremont silktassel seedlings are poor competitors, and their survival rate is low. (2)

Associated species

The associated species of Fremont silktassel
include Colter pine (Pinus coulteri), white fir (Abies concolor), deer
oak (Quercus sadleriana), scrub oak (Q. dumosa), manzanita
(Arctostaphylos spp.), buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), redbud (Cercis
occidentalis), birchleaf mountain-mahogany (Cerocarpus betuloides),
toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), poison-oak (Toxicodendron
diversilobium), chamise (Adenostoma fasiculatum), soft chess (Bromus
mollis), foxtail fescue (Festuca magalura), cutleaf filaree (Erodium
cicutarium), and various clovers (Trifolium spp.) (2)

May be collected as:

Seed (2)

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Very slow, the seed can take 2 or more years to germinate.

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Germination requires over winter stratification. (1)

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Information on seed life was not available.

Recommended seed storage conditions

Information on seed storage was not available.

Propagation recommendations

It is easily cultivated from stem cuttings or seed, and
transplants well. Best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. (1)
 

Soil or medium requirements

Fremont silktassel grows in well-drained, slightly

acidic, typic Xerochrept soil with 50 to 60 percent coarse fragment. (2)

Installation form

The plant strongly resents root disturbance and should be placed in its permanent position as soon as possible. (1)

Recommended planting density

Information on planting density was not available.

Care requirements after installed

Relatively little care is needed after installation. Regular watering is encouraged. (1)

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

At maturity, Fremont Silk-Tassel will reach heights of 5 - 15'. (2)

Sources cited

(1) Permaculture Information Web. Garrya fremontii. http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?plant=2921.

April 12,2006

(2) USDA Forest Service. Fire Effects Information Systems. http://www.fs.fed.us. April 12, 2006

Data compiled by: Sarah Short 4/12/06