Edgeworthia: Chinese Paper Bush
Edgeworthia is one of the stars of the winter garden - or should we say it's one of the suns? Bright yellow flowers appear in round clusters on the branch tips like little suns, so it's not much of a stretch.
Plant care & info
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Edgeworthia – Named for M.P. Edgeworth (1812-81) and English amateur botanist employed by the East India Company.
Common Name: Chinese Paper Bush, Yellow Daphne.
Found in the woodlands of the Himalayas and China.
Deciduous, alternate, simple, narrowly oblong, dark greenish blue. Leaves lend a tropical look during summer and fall.
Small flowers are usually yellow but rare orange and red flowering forms exist. They’re set in round clusters at branch tips. Bloom time is in February before leaves appear.
- 4-6′ x 4-6′
Full sun, part shade or shade.
Provide deep moist soil with high organic matter.
Nothing serious, but root rot can be an issue if over-watering occurs.
Edgeworthia flowers exude a sweet fragrance similar to Daphne, further enhancing their sunny disposition. During the time that Edgeworthia is not flowering it still impresses, with lush long green tropical-looking leaves.
There is a bit of yellow fall color (nothing to write home about) in autumn. After leaves have fallen, bare branches host silver-hair covered flower buds that according to one observer, look like mouse toes. Edgeworthia is one of those cool garden plants that collectors love and everyone will ask you about when you add it to your garden.
Edgeworthia Chrysantha vs Edgeworthia Papyrifera
Some literature says that there is no difference between the two species, but we think there is. It appears to us that Edgeworthia chrysantha has a beefier appearance all around, with dense flower clusters and fat branches that hold flowers upright and don’t droop. Edgeworthia papyrifera is more slender from flowers to branches. Tubular flowers have longer tubes and seem to pale a bit faster, leaves are more slender, branches are thinner and plants tend to drape like a lady on a chaise.
Regarding orange and red flowering Edgeworthias—they are very hard to find, and we are just as sad about it as you are. We keep an eye out and bring them in whenever we find them, but this is rare.
Explore More Edgeworthia
Edgeworthia Chrysantha
Edgeworthia Chrysantha
Fragrant gold flowers in February and big lush green leaves. Grows 4-5′ x 4-5′, best in morning sun, but can grow in full sun or shade. Plants growing in too much sun will need supplemental watering during summer. Z7-9.
Edgeworthia Papyrifera
Edgeworthia Papyrifera
Fragrant pale yellow flowers in February, slender green leaves, airy branching. Grows 6′ x 6′, sun, part shade, shade, Z6b
Native to China and the Himalayas, E. papyrifera has been used to make fine paper for eons.
