Wisley's
gardening advice service often receives many enquiries from
concerned owners of Garrya elliptica
in late winter and early spring.
These shrubs tend to look scruffy at this time as older evergreen leaves are shed in favour of new growth. Matters are worsened by the shrubs tendency to suffer cold damage, particularly when sharp weather follows a prolonged mild spell. The leaves look most unsightly, but in reality pose little threat to the plant. Pruning out the worst of the damage and tidying spent catkins improves the plant's appearance.
Leaf spots in autumn and early winter are often the result of delayed symptom of some stress encountered by the plant the previous summer, such as a period of drought or waterlogging. Remove the most badly effected leaves and improve growing conditions. Spotting of leaves in warmer weather may indicate a fungal leafspot disease. No permitted fungicides are available, so removal of infected material is the only remedy.