Stachyurus

( sta - kee - UR - uss )

At-A-Glance Information

This species of deciduous shrubs or small trees, commonly called Early Stachyurus, Japanese Lantern, or Spiketail, needs full sun to light shade and regular water to perform well in the landscape. They are native to Japan, are slow growing, and reach 10 feet tall and a little less wide at maturity. In fall and winter, branches hold striking, dangling flower chains. Flowers are greenish- to pale yellow in color with little to no fragrance and are followed by green to yellow berries. Handsome leaves are bright green and have sharp tips but foliage is somewhat sparse overall. Fall color is reddish but not vivid. Use these trees in the landscape as specimens or focal points, trained as espalier, or to contrast against dark backdrops in springtime. They are commonly included in woodland, shade, and wildlife gardens.

Stachyurus Species and Varietals

The genus Stachyurus is the type genus member of the plant family Stachyuraceae, and includes just 9 species. Stachyurus shrubs are suited for cultivation in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-6 and 14-17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Stachyurus chinensis (Chinese Stachyurus, Chinese Spiketail, China Pendant Flower, Duǎn Suì Jīng Jié Huā, 中国旌节花)
These plants are native to China and Taiwan, and form spreading deciduous shrubs that reach 8 feet tall and 13 feet wide at maturity. Flowers are borne on stiff pendulous racemes, and are green-yellow, blooming in winter and spring. Cultivars include 'Celina' (with longer flower racemes than the straight species), and 'Joy Forever' (with variegated, mottled foliage).

Stachyurus praecox (Early Stachyurus, Japanese Lantern, Spiketail, Early Stachyurus, Kibushi, キブシ, 木五倍子)
This species is native to Japan, slow growing, and reaches up to 10 feet tall and a little less wide at maturity. In fall and winter, branches are clothed in dangling flower racemes. Blooms are greenish to pale yellow and are followed by berries. Cultivars of this species include 'Oriental Sun' (with an upright habit and brilliant variegated foliage) and 'Issai' (with 12-inch racemes).

Stachyurus salicifolius (Willow-Leaf Spiketail, Willow-Leaved Stachyurus, Liǔ Yè Jīng Jié Huā, 柳叶旌节花)
Native to China, these evergreen shrubs produce lance-shaped leaves with reddish branches and midribs. Individual plants reach up to 10 feet tall, and flower between April and May in their native range. Blooms are followed by fruits that are present between June and July.

Caring for stachyurus

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) for best overall growth and tree health. Amending soil with plenty of organic matter before planting is recommended. These plants are not heavy feeders, especially if the soil has adequate organic matter content. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Keep the soil consistently moist during the active leafing and flowering seasons at maturity, and lessen irrigation when plants are dormant in fall and winter.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season. To shape or rejuvenate these trees and shrubs, prune in early springtime immediately after flowering ends. These plants bloom on old wood (formed during the previous season), and pruning too late after blooms can mean that next year's buds are removed. Developing flower buds will need protection from frost in order to make it through to the next season. Spiketail plants can be expected to survive in the landscape for decades before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Stachyurus shrubs 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 by Cutting

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. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
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.
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.
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 by Seed

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. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
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.
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.
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 produce green to yellow-green oval to rounded berries that hang in clusters from branches after flowers fade. Each contains many (80 to 150) small seeds.

Stachyurus seeds are very small, and are typically tan to brown in color.

Problems and Pests

These shrubs are resistant to most pests and diseases, though they can suffer from the following common garden issues if growing conditions are not met: