Yellowleaf Silktassel, Ash Silktassel, Ashy Silktassel, Quinine Bush                GAR-i-a

• Evergreen shrub, many-branched, to 6-12 ft (1.8-3.6 m) in height.  Leaves opposite, simple, elliptical, 3-7 cm long, base wedge-shaped, tip acute, sometimes abruptly terminated by a sharp point (mucronate), the margin is entire, yellowish-green to gray-green, densely silky-pubescent below, much less above.  Flowers in catkin-like clusters, male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious), male catkins mostly unbranched, female clusters dense, 2.5-5 cm long.  Fruit ovoid, appressed, covered with silky hairs.
• Sun.  Very drought tolerant.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 6     Native range from southern Utah and south and east to Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, and into Mexico, and west to Nevada and California.
• flavescens: yellowish.