Trembling veil

A curtain of pale green-yellow flowers drops across the garden as Stachyurus chinensis comes into bloom. The deciduous shrub bears pendant racemes of small clustered flowers in late winter and early spring, the sprigs dangling from a smooth, polished branch which can be green or dark purple-red. The plant prefers partial shade, a sheltered position and moist, well-drained soil. In the right conditions, it can reach a height and spread of 8-13ft (2.5-4m). Each of its racemes can grow to 9in (23cm). Two cultivars, ‘Joy Forever’ and ‘Celina’, have been given the RHS Award for Garden Merit. The former has variegated green and yellow leaves, edged with a thin line of bronze.