Stachyurus praecox

( sta - kee - UR - uss   PREE - kocks )

At-A-Glance Information

This species of deciduous shrub, commonly called Early Stachyurus, Japanese Lantern, or Spiketail, needs full sun to light shade and regular water. They are native to Japan, slow growing, and reach 10 feet tall and a little less wide. In fall and winter, branches hold flower stalks that hang from branches. Flowers are greenish- to pale yellow in color and are followed by green-yellow berries. Leaves are bright green and have a sharp tip, but foliage is somewhat sparse on these plants. Fall color is rose-red but not vivid. Great under a deciduous tree; its buds need shelter from winter cold spells. Early Stachyurus does great in zones 4-6 and 14-17 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Caring for and pruning stachyurus praecox shrubs

Plant these shrubs in a spot that gets partial shade to full sun; they are perfect underneath tall shade trees in woodland settings. Soil should be well-draining and rich in humus. The pH of the soil should be under 6.0 (acidic). Amending soil with plenty of organic matter before planting is recommended. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the active leafing and flowering seasons. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention, regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds. These are not heavy feeders, especially if the soil has adequate organic matter content. If the shrub seems to be struggling, however, it may benefit from a slow-release water-soluble fertilizer applied in springtime. A fertilizer meant for other acid-lovers, like Azaleas and Rhododendrons, should be sufficient.

Although these shrubs are generally hardy, mulching around the base of the plant can ensure that roots don't get damaged by freezing temperatures in wintertime. Minimal pruning is required for these shrubs; simply shape the shrub and remove any errant or damaged branches immediately after flowering ceases for the year.

Propagation

Stachyurus praecox can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Stachyurus praecox by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In late spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Stachyurus praecox by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained within the yellow-green fruits produced by the shrub that hang in bunches off of branches during the leaf-out period.  Cut them off of the plant and then place them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area until you are ready to work with them. Then, remove the seeds from the fruit by slicing the fruit open or using a grater to remove the flesh. Once the seeds have been removed, rinse them and set them out to dry.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes around 21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Stachyurus praecox seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by the shrubs.
Stachyurus praecox seeds.

Problems and Pests

These shrubs are resistant to most pests and diseases, though they can suffer from the following common garden issues:
  • Aphids
  • Scale
For information on these issues, consult the links below:
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Gallery

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Videos

All about Stachyurus praecox.
Learn about these interesting woodland shrubs.

Resources

Stachyurus praecox (Early Stachyurus)
Stachyurus praecox​
Wikipedia: Stachyurus praecox
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 612, Stachyurus praecox
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