garrya elliptica-advice needed re hardiness

I really fancy growing one of these. In a large container maybe as well. RHS site says its frost hardy , some other sites say its ok to minus 10 , others say needs winter protection. I am in redditch, worcestershire if that helps. I have wet clay soil hence maybe the pot. If it does need winter protection what does this mean. Some fleece? or completely taken inside

 

Hi FP, I grew Garrya in a midlands garden (east-facing border) without any protection and it was fine. The worst that can happen is that the catkins get a bit frost-burnt. I certainly wouldn't attempt to confine one to a pot. They're potentially big shrubs and it would soon be thoroughly miserable like that.

 

ooh thats good news. thanks . i will try in actual garden then and hope for the best!!! thanks

 

I've grown them twice here ... both died in cold winters :( Heavy Clay here, so their feet would have been wet in winter and not much protection from any cold winds.

The variety of choice is James-something - "James Roof" ??

 

I had a beautiful young, "James Roof" Garrya in my clay garden. It was really healthy and doing fine.

Until ....

"Mr "M" and the Strimmer Attack"

I didn't notice the scars in the lower end of the main stem until after it began looking quite poorly and keeling over Then, I noticed similar damage to some other shrubs and young trees I'd planted Didn't take Sherlock Holmes to work it out

I say plant it in the ground, keep your strimmer well away from it and it should be fine

 

oh dear!!! i will keep my strimmer well and truly away