Among these catkin-bearing plants is Garrya eliptica, the silver tassel bush, a large, evergreen shrub with oval, dark green leaves with grey undersides. 

The flowers are borne in hanging catkins of silver-grey cups on separate male and female plants. 

The male plant has longer and finer catkins than those of the female plant which bears clusters of purplish brown fruits. The most popular cultivar would be ‘James Roof’ which can produce catkins up to 30cms long. 

Garryas prefer a well-drained, loamy soil in a sheltered position. These versatile, large shrubs, with their neat growing habit, can be easily trained as espaliers and are suitable for planting as windbreaks in coastal regions.    

Another catkin-producing plant is Corylus avellana, the hazelnut, with garlands of long yellow-green catkins that sway prettily in the slightest breeze. Corylus avellana contorta, the witch hazel, has unusual twisted branches and looks most striking when clothed in catkins. The female flowers are borne below the catkins on the same plants as tiny buds with short red stigmas. 

The elegant birches have male and female catkins on the same tree and none do it as beautifully as the silver birch, Betula pendula. Other forms of birches include the tall, slender tristis, the erect fastigiata and the weeping youngii.

Ostrya carpini folia, the hop hornbeam, also belongs to the birch family, Betulaceae, and has clusters of seed that hang down like bunches of grapes. The male flowers are red-brown and the female light green, and appear in separate catkins on the same tree. The female catkins produce seed-bearing pods that resemble the fruit of hops, hence its common name of hop hornbeam.  

For larger gardens the weeping Populus tremula pendula, the quaking poplar, with its masses of long purplish-grey catkins would be a good choice. One lovely specimen is  growing in City Park, in Launceston.

The spectacular flowered liliums are in full bloom and with the many varieties there is a cavalcade of colours - orange, red, yellow, pink, white, apricot, gold and a mixture of several colours in the one floret.

Liliums are easy to grow, but the most important thing is to provide them with good drainage as they will not tolerate wet feet. They can be grown in all soils of reasonable fertility, but in heavy or wet soils they will need to be planted in raised beds.

Liliums are ideal for planting among rhododendrons and azaleas, and for the smaller gardens they will grow successfully in pots. 

This weekend, there is a Lilium Show in Launceston and one in Burnie so if you are interested in growing these beautiful plants go along and have a chat to the club members who have a wealth of knowledge on lilies.   

January 7 and 8:  The North-West Tasmanian Lilium Society will hold a Lilium Show at the  Burnie Arts and Function Centre  from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. 

January 7 and 8:  The Northern Tasmanian Lilium Society will hold it’s annual Lilium Show at St Ailbe’s Hall, Margaret Street, Launceston from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday and from 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday.

January 28 and 29: The North-West Lilium Society will present a Lilium Show at the Latrobe Town Hall from 1pm to 4pm on  Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.