Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Garrya fremontii is a species of flowering shrub known by several common names, including California fever bush, bearbrush, and Frmont's silktassel. Both the latter name, and the plant's specific epithet are derived from John C. Frmont G. fremontii is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California. It can be found in a number of habitats, from mountain forest to woodlands and chaparral canyons and slopes. This is a shrub reaching a maximum height of three to four meters. The leaves are oval-shaped, 2 to 12 centimeters long and about half as wide, and smooth green, rarely with hairs on the undersides. The plant is dioecious, with male and female plants producing long, hanging clusters of yellowish to pinkish flowers. The fruit is a spherical berry, starting green and turning pink and then purple. The fruit is eaten by birds and mammals, who disperse the seeds. The plant can also sprout from its root crown. Like many other chaparral species, it is quick to recover from wildfire.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

10 - 13 ft Tall

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Color

Pink, Yellow, Green, Purple

Special uses

Hedge

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 3 mos. warm and 3 mos. cold stratification [USDA Forest Service 1948).

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6*, 7*, 9, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Plant communities

Chaparral, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest