Other Names:  Chinese Catkin Tree

Description:

An upright spreading shrub producing cascading racemes of yellow-green flowers in spring, before the leaves; showy foliage is nicely variegated with yellow centers and green edges; an interesting addition to the garden or landscape

Ornamental Features

Carolina Parakeet Variegated Spiketail is bathed in stunning racemes of yellow bell-shaped flowers with chartreuse overtones hanging below the branches from early to mid spring before the leaves. It has attractive yellow-variegated dark green foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The oval leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. The smooth brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Carolina Parakeet Variegated Spiketail is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Carolina Parakeet Variegated Spiketail is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Carolina Parakeet Variegated Spiketail will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.