Stachyurus chinensis 'CELINA' Chinese spiketail

Chinese spiketail is a lovely shrub from China with handsome racemes of pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers in early spring. Flower buds are beginning to form in late summer and in case of Celina variety they open up in end March or early April, contrasting beautifully with the purplish-brown branchlets. There can be 25-50 individual flowers on one raceme.

Leaves are lance- or oblong-shaped, mid green and offer a fantastic colour show in autumn when they change to pink, red and orange. The shrub grows medium fast into a spreading, somewhat rounded shape with arching branches. Some growers recommend cutting back flowering shoots immediately after flowering.

Spiketail needs acid, humus-rich, always moist but well-drained soil. Grow it in filtered sunlight or dappled shade, or if mulched well it will take full sun. A position sheltered from strong, drying winds is preferred. Fertilizing is advisable after pruning. Reliably hardy to -21°C (USDA zone 6) and withstands occasional swings a few degrees lower.

Last update 08-01-2010