Identification of shrub from the Grieg Rhodo Garden

Hi all,

The plant was photographed a few days ago in the Ted and Mary Grieg Rhododendron Garden neat Stanley Park.

It is a large multi-stemmed shrub of about 16' high and wide found along the path leading down from Lagoon drive.

Here is a detailed image of the leaf and a wider photo of branching and fruit.

Thank you for helping me identify this shrub.

 

Stachyurus.

 

In your pic you have the flower buds formed already.
They form in the autumn and just sit there until the spring.
Then they open slowly on long pendulous stalks of tiny flowers..normally yellow.

Do go back to check them out.

http://www.ericaglasener.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Stachyurus-praecox-Issai-in-early-April-.jpg

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIyrfy3870xwIVhTsaCh0Qugj-

 

Thanks, Ron and Silver surfer.

I am going with it being Stachyurus praecox. Though there seems to be some confusion in the photos that I can find online. With some praecox photos, showing more lanceolate leaves (which I assume to be a characteristic of Stachyurus chinensis).

As for seeing the shrub in flower, I grabbed some seed and will subject them to some cold stratification for good measure. But I would certainly welcome any tips on seed propagation, should anyone have any knowledge.

Another hardiness test for my protected garden in downtown Montreal, zone 5!

 

We used to grow Stachyurus praecox and S.chinensis.
Never did work out the difference!

I read a learned article by a grower Karen Junkers several years ago.
Cannot find it on www but in her catalogue. she says.....

"STACHYURUS praecox
The flowers are basically the same as S. chinensis but occur 2 weeks earlier."

So suggest you stick with Ron's first comment.... Stachyurus sp.