Field ManualAll plants

Early spiketail
Stachyurus praecox Siebold & Zucc.
Pet & Human Safety
People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
ASPCA has no page for this plant. Do not treat as pet-safe.
PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.
Poison control
If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.
Naturalist Lore
Historical Background & Breeding Lore
The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.
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- Hardiness zones
Oregon State: USDA zone 6. Trees and Shrubs Online: "quite hardy"; no zone figure given
- Light
Sun or part shade (best), in moist, well-drained, acid soil (Oregon State).
- Water needs
moderate moderate is a plain-language reading of Oregon State, which asks for moist, well-drained soil; no watering figure on the page. Always finger-test two inches down.
- Mature size
US: Oregon State: 4-10 ft (1.2-3 m) high; UK: Trees and Shrubs Online: said to reach as much as 10 ft in Japan, but rarely more than half as high in England
How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.
Get the app: coming soonAnatomy & Guilds
Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics
How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.
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Field Doctor
What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.
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Vintage Plates
Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.
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