Early stachyurus

Early stachyurus: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Wide, loose shrub 2–3 m tall and wide, with an open structure and arching red-brown branches.

Leaves

Oval to lance-shaped, 6–12 cm, with a pointed tip and a toothed edge; they appear after flowering.

Flowers

Hanging strings 6–10 cm long of small, pale yellow bells, from February to April.

Buds

The flower strings form in autumn and hang on the branches all winter as green to reddish-brown beads.

Roots

Fibrous and fairly shallow; it likes a cool, humus-rich soil.

Flowering: February–April · Plants: March–April and October–November · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• It flowers from February to April, when almost nothing else is in bloom in the garden.
• The hanging yellow strings are a striking sight on the bare branches.
• An early food source for bees on mild days.
• It grows well in partial shade, where many shrubs flower less.
• The leaves turn yellow in autumn, and the flower buds already decorate the branches all winter.

Early stachyurus: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade, sheltered from cold winds: the early flowers can be damaged by hard frost.
• Humus-rich, well-drained soil: sand, loam or peat, acid to neutral; preferably no lime.
• Evenly moist soil; it tolerates neither long drought nor waterlogging.
• A sheltered corner, against a wall or among other shrubs, is ideal; avoid a frost pocket where cold air collects.
• Allow 2–2.5 m of space all round.

Light

Partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or peat

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

2.5 m tall, 2.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Rhododendron: The same acid, humus-rich soil and partial shade; it flowers later in spring.
• Witch hazel: A winter bloomer in yellow and orange that sits well beside the yellow strings.
• Hellebore: Winter-flowering perennial for under the shrub.
• Snowdrop: Flowers at the same time, right under the branches.
• Ferns: Fresh green under the shrub when its leaves appear later in the season.

Early stachyurus: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–November.

1. Plant in March–April or in October–November; spring planting establishes most easily.
2. Dig a generous hole, twice as wide as the root ball, and mix in leaf mould.
3. Set the shrub at the same depth as it stood in its pot and firm the soil lightly.
4. Keep 2–2.5 m away from other shrubs.
5. Water in well straight away, then weekly in dry spells during the first year.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould or bark around the base.

Care

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially in the first year and in dry summers. Rainwater is better than hard tap water.

Feeding

In spring after flowering, a layer of compost or an organic fertiliser for acid-loving plants.

Mulching

A thick layer of leaf mould or bark keeps the roots cool and moist.

Frost protection

Cover young shrubs with horticultural fleece during hard frost in flowering time, and the strings stay beautiful.

Upkeep

Little work: remove dead wood after flowering and otherwise leave it alone.

Tip: Plant it in a sheltered spot you can see from a window: in February–March you enjoy the flowers without standing in the cold. Rainwater and leaf mould keep the soil acid.

Early stachyurus: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: After flowering, in April. It needs very little pruning.

How:

• Remove dead, damaged and weak stems right at the base.
• Shorten overlong stems back to a side shoot to keep the shape.
• Every few years, take out a few old stems to make room for young shoots.

Caution: Do not prune in winter: the flower strings have been on the branches since autumn and you would cut them off.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Softwood cuttings

In June–July: 8–10 cm cuttings from young shoots in moist, airy cutting compost under plastic. Roots form after 6–8 weeks; be patient.

Layering

In spring, bend a low, flexible stem to the ground and pin it down; separate it after a year and replant.

Early stachyurus: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy down to about −20 °C: in a sheltered spot that is usually no problem in Belgium.
• The flower strings are more tender than the stems: in hard frost in February–March they can be damaged. Cover young plants with fleece then.
• In a pot: stand it in a sheltered spot against a wall and wrap the pot in hessian.

Diseases and pests

• Frost-damaged flowers: Brown, limp strings after frost in February–March. Plant in shelter and cover young shrubs; the shrub recovers by itself.
• Yellow leaves (chlorosis): Yellow leaves with green veins on chalky soil. Use rainwater, work leaf mould into the soil and choose an acid to neutral soil.
• Drought stress: Brown leaf edges and limp foliage in hot summers. Water evenly and lay a mulch.
• Aphids: Sometimes on young shoots. A strong jet of water is usually enough.

Through the year

• February: Flowering begins. Cover young shrubs in hard frost.
• March: Flowering. Plant or transplant. Give compost.
• April: Last flowers. Prune after flowering. Apply mulch.
• May: The leaves appear. Water in dry weather.
• June: Take softwood cuttings. Water in dry weather.
• July: Water in prolonged drought.
• October: Plant. Autumn colour; the flower buds become visible.
• November: Plant. Leaf fall.
• December: Dormant. The flower strings are already on the branches.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Stachyurus comes from Greek: stachys means ‘ear of corn’ and oura ‘tail’, after the long, tail-like flower strings.
• The species name praecox means ‘early’, a reference to its early flowering.
• Stachyuraceae is a small family containing only the genus Stachyurus.