Stachyurus salicifolius (Willow Leaf Spiketail)
Botanical Information
| Family | Stachyuraceae |
| Genus | Stachyurus |
| Species | salicifolius |
| Synonyms | Stachyurus salicifolia |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to Chongqing (Nanchuan), Sichuan, and North East Yunnan, China. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 7b - 8a |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H5 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -15 - 10 |
| Height | 2-3 m |
| Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Shrubs evergreen, 2-3 m tall. |
| ID Characteristic | This species is often easily distinguishable from other species in the genus by its usually linear-lanceolate, leathery or thickly papery leaves. |
| Shape | Sprawling to mounding. |
| Landscape | Unusual specimen shrub. Suitable for shrub border or for growing in a woodland garden or against a wall. |
| Propagation | Propagate by softwood or heeled semi-ripe cuttings |
| Cultivation | Grow in light moist but well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soils. Protect from drying winds. |
| Pests | Vine weevils, scale insects, honey fungus, powdery mildew, and bud blast. |
| Notable Specimens | National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
| Habitat | Found in broad-leaved and mixed forests or thickets on mountain slopes, along stream sides and in mountain valleys at 800-2000 m. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bark is brown or purple-brown in colour. |
| Leaf Description | Leaf blade linear-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 7-16 cm long × 1-2 cm wide, leathery or thickly papery, both surfaces glabrous, mid-vein raised on both sides, lateral veins 6-8 paired, anastomosing at margin, base obtuse to rounded, margin inconspicuously serrate, apex acuminate. |
| Flower Description | Spikes erect or nodding, 5-7 cm, peduncles short. Flowers yellow-green, sessile, bract triangular, apex acute, bracteoles ovate, ciliate, apex acute. Sepals ovate, ciliate, apex obtuse. Petals obovate, apex obtuse or subrounded. |
| Fruit Description | Fruit globose, 5-6 mm in diameter. |
Photographs
Stachyurus salicifolius, form, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Stachyurus salicifolius, leaf, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Stachyurus salicifolius, flowers, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Stachyurus salicifolius, flowers, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Stachyurus salicifolius, flowers, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.