Garrya congdonii, the chaparral silktassel or Congdon silktassel, a fairly common evergreen shrub native to the northern California Coast Ranges, is one of a small biological family of approximately twenty known species in the family Garryaceae, most of which are Garrya.

Congdon silktassel, as all the genus Garrya, have opposite leaves that have a tough leathery feel, glossy green on top, but paler, slightly furry and duller on the underside.

Although the flowers bloom in late January and February, dried bracts remain on the tree well into summer as light gray decorations.

The ripened purple to black fruit of about seven millimeters in diameter has a hard desiccated shell, but is somewhat fleshy on the interior.

Congdon silktassel is found in several plant communities, principally in drier inner California Coast Ranges no more than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean; the main associations are Coastal chaparral, mixed evergreen forest (near a chaparral area) and northern coastal sage scrub.

[4] This plant is rather resistant to being grazed by deer or rabbits, and is hardy to cold temperatures of about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ashy silktassel (Garrya flavescens pallida) has grayish leaves and is reported to occur in the Alameda County hills.