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Garrya-tell me about this plant!
Liz Warner
Posts: 199
in Plants
I've noticed a plant in several gardens recently and I think it might be the garrya. It has beautifully striking catkins at the moment. Some are small and trained to climb trellises, some are shrub like and some massive. I've got a plot next to my drive where it could go. It's sheltered in between an east facing exterior house wall and a south facing fence. What does it look like the rest of the year when it doesn't have catkins on? My previous plan wasn't to plant a black bamboo in a large pot to match the bamboos the other side of my front garden. 
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Its moment of glory is the catkins. The rest of the year it's the same but no catkins. Just dullish evergreen. Ok if you have plenty of room for lots of shrubs but not one I'd choose otherwise
In the sticks near Peterborough
We have a Garrya in our garden in our garden:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/norwichhouse-oakridge/15943585240/in/photolist-qhT3qG
When it performs it is very impressive but a show every year cannot be guaranteed. It is on a South facing, dry, sandy and acid slope with a 75 year old apple tree just behind it.
So it's pretty when the catkins are out but otherwise a fairly non descript plant?
Yes, that's about it, but if you have a suitable space it is worth it.