All dressed up for winter

There are three points of interest about the silk-tassel tree that suit me well as a gardener.

Firstly, this classy plant puts on its display of tassels through winter when not much else is vying for attention.

This year the catkins are putting on an exceptional show. It looks as if Garrya spent the night in Christine Rankin's earring wardrobe.

Secondly, I've always wanted to go to the United States and explore the Pacific Northwest.

The silk-tassel tree grows in its natural habitat along the beautiful coastal ranges, from Oregon to California, scarcely venturing more than about 30km from the coast.

It is well suited to hot and dry coastal conditions and copes well with urban pollution.

The coasts of Oregon and Northern California receive minimal annual rainfall, between 60cm and 150cm. The temperatures average about 20degC in summer and a mild 7degC in winter.

Lastly, the silk-tassel tree has been blessed with a straightforward, no-nonsense botanical name. Garrya is down-to-earth and easy to remember and spell.

> Examples of the silk-tassel tree, Garrya elliptica can be found flouncing about in the winter- and spring-flowering theme area adjacent to the Gardens Corner entrance and in the upper botanic garden South American geographic border.

> There is an even showier form in the lower garden car-park plantings. Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' was selected for having tassels even longer than the original species.

• Marianne Groothuis is curator of the thematic borders at Dunedin Botanic Garden.