The leaves and fruits are glabrous to thickly pubescent. The small flowers are borne on racemes. Garrya fremontii var. G. fremontii var. Details concerning the rooting habits of this species or this genus are lacking.
Plants produce seed at eight years of age.
Germination requires overwinter stratification. Fresh seed viability is 85 to 99 percent, but viability decreases with age. Fremont silktassel seedlings are poor competitors, and their survival rate is low. Facultative Seral Species Fremont silktassel is found in all stages of succession. Fremont silktassel is most common, however, in chaparral communities.