Stachyurus praecox

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early stachyurus

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Synonyms

Stachyurus japonicus

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Shrubs
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A spreading, large, deciduous shrub to 4m in height, with red-purple shoots and slender-pointed, mid-green leaves 8-15cm in length, and drooping racemes to 8cm in length of bell-shaped, pale yellow-green flowers 8mm in width, in late winter and early spring on bare branches

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

RHS Recommended: for People & Planet

RHS Recommended Plants for People & Planet

For Water Resilience

Plants for Flood Resilience

Plants that can help manage heavy rain by catching rainfall, slowing surface run-off, encouraging water into the soil or taking it up through their roots, contributing to flood resilient gardens.

Plants for both Wet and Dry Conditions

Plants that cope with changing soil moisture, including wet winters and extended summer dry. Once established, they grow as wet and dry conditions alternate.

For Temperature Resilience

Plants for Temperature Cooling

Plants that cool air temperature by providing shade, transpiration, or reflection to reduce heat impact on people, animals, soil or other ground surface.

Plants for Wind Shelter

Plants with dense canopies often grown as a tall thick hedge or grouping can block wind and shelter gardens, buildings and people.

For Carbon Storage

Plants for Carbon Storage

Plants that can take up carbon (CO₂) through photosynthesis and store it within the plant or deposit it by their roots into the soil.

For Biodiversity

Plants for Pollinators

Plants that have flowering properties (pollen and/or nectar) that are particularly beneficial for pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Growing conditions for maximum benefit

This plant will provide the maximum benefits if it is healthy and allowed to grow to maturity

For Bio-Diversity

  • Plants for Pollinators

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Stachyuraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Stachyurus are small deciduous trees with simple, ovate leaves and stiffly pendent racemes of small bell-shaped pale yellow flowers in late winter and early spring
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Japan, Korea

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light moist but well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soils. Suitable for shrub border or for growing in woodland garden or against a wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed or heeled semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility