There is no fall color. Mine faces southeast with a wall and shrubs behind it so it is protected from winter winds. Leslie, I hope that you will report back on the results of your trial. One of the all-time favorite plants in our own gardens, Edgeworthia, also called Paper Bush, is a truly a multi-season color and fragrance factory. I did have to take off a branch that was against the house and I hated every second of it. Note: Viewing a Native Plant will take you into our Native Plant section. There is an evergreen dogwood called something like Empress of China that might work. Any ideas? I have a corylopsis not pauciflora, I forget which one but this year it has doubled in size and was loaded with beautiful yellow chains of flowers last spring. These hang on the bare branches and flood the garden with an exotic perfume, creating a sight and smell you will love. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. I have had an Edgeworthia chrysantha growing in my yard (NE side of house, against a rock wall) on Cape Cod, MA for over 12 years, and it is spectacular every winter thru spring. I would have a hard time giving mine up, they are so beautiful and fragrant. Unless you have the red / orange form, akebono, which was apparently a blooming flop for mist folks. How many years was the plant growing in your container? I am wondering if you, Carolyn, have been able to locate any new ones. Save your plant data online. However, I have been able to offer it to my customers in fall 2011 and fall 2012 because my wholesale shrub supplier carries beautiful specimens of it. Akebono, which is an Edgworthia papyrifera, not an E. chrysantha (although there is some confusion), is not hardy here in zone 7A, southeastern PA. Edgeworthia chrysantha and its cultivars like Winter Gold are completely hardy, although the buds will freeze in extremely cold winters like 2017-2018, and there may be some branch die back. Your email address will not be published. It is now so largejust as wide as it is tallthat it will take 3 or 4 strong people to move it. I bought one at the Scott Arboretum sale in 2007 (?). Everyone feel free to chime in! If there are any left I would like to try one in southeast Michigan zone 6 (now changed from zone 5) and will grow it in a protected place, maybe in a area that Japanese maples would like. Deleting this collection CANNOT be undone. Akebono did not make it through the winter, but Winter Gold flowered very well, in spite of another very cold March. Edgeworthia papyrifera paperbush A bushy deciduous shrub with very flexible shoots bearing rounded inflorescences 5cm across, composed of numerous small, lightly fragrant yellow flowers opening from hairy buds in late winter and early spring, before the narrowly oval leaves appear Other common names mitsumata paper bush Synonyms That one shared more of the daphne family fickleness. In the summer, the plant is covered in beautiful, narrowly oval, dark blue-green leaves, 6 in. My 1990 edition of Michael Dirrs Manual of Woody Landscape Plants contains no mention of it, and it was not covered in my 1994 Longwood course, Deciduous Flowering Shrubs II. If you contact Dirk in Germany, let him know you have heard about it from Nik from Bulgaria. Carolyn. I will try this when I can get one in a very protected spot. My edgeworthias have organic soil but are in a dry location. They're set in round clusters at branch tips. Bright yellow flowers appear in round clusters on the branch tips like little suns, so it's not much of a stretch. The cold hardy camellia varieties work fine here, and the April Series are great. Then suddenly, about 2 weeks ago, one side of it started exhibiting some decline. There is basic information about the nursery along with catalogues and a place to subscribe to the blog. I purchased 3, two are 66 and the third is maybe 45, with smaller leaves, must be slightly different cultivars. Carolyn. Oh my word!!! Then if nothing works I would move it if at all possible. Place the pot in a plastic bag to keep it moist [6]. Edgeworthias seem to be very hardy, but I will not test mine. It is getting so big that I may have to cut it back! . It is deciduous and has large and distinctive leaves. Andrew points out that there are actually two species of edgeworthia, E. chrysantha and E. papyrifera. Unless I dig it up and bring it in, it will likely not survive at all. Donna, I only know of one nursery that supplies it down here. The small, yellow, strongly fragrant, pendant flowers hang in hemispherical clusters from the bare branch tips from February to April. The plant sold as Edgeworthia papyrifera is slightly smaller and has more delicate flowers and branching. Grows 4-5' x 4-5', best in morning sun, but can grow in full sun or shade. They exude a powerful perfume in the evening. You can grow edgeworthia as you would a daphne, in well-amended, well-drained soils. Edgeworthia chrysantha is a deciduous shrub with dark green, leathery, single, alternate, lanceolate leaves, 8-13 cm long. Will he destroy the edgeworthia? I have mine in a 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide, and 5 feet long, container that I built and the container is in a protected locationsheltering the plant from full sun and winds. I had concluded the same thing about sun and shade but on the basis of far less experience so it is great to hear confirmation. Heather @ heathrss@aol.com, Sorry, Heather, the only plants I ship are snowdrops and mini hostas. Our Edgeworthia is about 9 years old now, and last year and this, many of the upper leaves have become shriveled and unattractive, and then die back. Lee Lee, Thank you so much for your extensive comment. A walled-in secluded corner that faces away from the prevailing winter windsI am not sure which direction they come from in Michigan. They recover immediately with water. edgeworthia varieties. It is so happy Edgeworthia chrysantha Robert E. Lyons This shrub grows in zones 7 to 9, and in protected areas of Zone 6. The only plants that we ship are snowdrops and miniature hostas. Silvery flower buds appear in late summer and open in the winter when few other plants are in bloom. However, mine sailed through our harsh winter with -10 F (10 degrees below our supposed zone low) and bloomed. The present study was to elucidate the ultrastructure characteristics of the flower, the phytochemical composition of the aroma essential oil The Akebono finally leafed out, so now I have two growing side by side, vigorously. I grow mine in an east-facing location with very high shade, but edgeworthias at the Scott Arboretum and Chanticleer are in the sun while Charles Cresson has a relatively old plant in full shade. Old leaves turn yellow and fall off regularly. Where is your Garden. The individual florets are tiny, but a few dozen make up a 1-1/2 to 2-inch cluster that will simply knock you sideways. Name: Edgeworthia chrysantha Common name: Paperbush Description: Deciduous shrub reaching 5-6 feet tall and wide. If you read the comments, there are plants growing in SC in full sun. form a strategic partnership called N.C. The small, yellow, strongly fragrant, pendant flowers hang in clusters from the bare branch tips from February to April. I would guess two to three ft. as I tried to keep a nice shape to it. Long, narrow, leathery, blue-green leaves up to 10 inches long give the shrub a tropical look. Is it because I live in a country that has no winter? Carolyn. It doesnt seem to care about sun or shade, although full sun leads to droopy leaves in summer. Once again I wish I lived closer to you this plant is not sold in my area. WE are Zone 7B, [ a little colder than an 8 but not as cold as a true Zone 7 In summer, it's covered in beautiful, elongated, 5-inch-long leaves that hold droplets of water on their finely pubescent surfaces. Please keep in touch. Cooperative Extension has offices in every county, Request and Invitation to Upcoming Classes, Edgeworthia Brightens the Winter Landscape, Bulbs, Corms and Tubers That Can Be Planted in Spring, Native Plants for Craven County Landscapes, 11. An edgeworthia can drop all its old leaves and resprout in the course of a few weeks which I have seen recently where one is stressed from transplanting (oh, say after being yanked from the ground in Georgia and put in barely any soil and taken to Kennett Square to ones mum in a long car ride!). It is such a beautiful plant. In spring, after the blooms pass, it sports lovely bluish foliage with silvery undertones that are both eye-catching and soothing. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Another much more scarce cultivar, Red Dragon, has characteristic orange-red flowers. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. One of the all-time favorite plants in our own gardens, Edgeworthia, also called Paper Bush, is a truly a multi-season color and fragrance factory. In fact most of the time it is about freezing or above in winter. Great info, Liane. I wanted to attach a picture but do not see an option to do it. Grown in the sun, the foliage is still acceptable, though not as lush green as a rhododendron grown in a shaded area. All the edgeworthias I have ever seen do that. It has come back well, however, with very little die back. Edgeworthia, is a shrub native to China and the Himalayas that provides superb fall and winter interest and a gardenia-like fragrance. Z7-9, Fragrant pale yellow flowers in February, slender green leaves, airy branching. 0. edgeworthia varieties. Should it adapt with time? Plants growing in too much sun will need supplemental watering during summer. Pruning my be in my plants future too. They do great here, lots of blooms, growing large, 66 after 5 years. 4 Patents. I think protection from winter winds is the most important consideration. What zone are you? Donna, Exotic is a good word for it, and it does engage the sense of touch with the silky buds. I want people to ramble on about edgeworthias so that the information gets out there! Joy, It is normal for the old leaves to turn yellow and fall off. No routine pruning is necessary. Phone: 503.788.9000 At least, I say I would. Anne, See my response to Joyce. Hello, Last winter the buds freezedried and never opened on mine in Germantown (PA), but the plant is fine. Thank you! I actually adore this plant when its just in budI think it adds great interest to the garden. 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. Ive had them for about 8 years and hardly do anything to maintain them, just pinestraw mulch seems to keep them happy. Sometimes if an insect chews on the leaf bud before it opens, then the leaf will be distorted. I have seen only a couple of truly thriving aurantiacus. Hi Judith, For catalogues and announcements of events, please send your full name, location, and phone number (for back up use only) to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com. Your reply would be highly appreciated!!! I didnt think it would be hardy farther north than zone 7. Thanks in advance! Edgeworthias have supple, bendy and papery bark with dark green obovate leaves. Theres the best time to transplant, prune, etc., in books, and then theres the best time for me which is when I have time and motivation otherwise the job wont get done. At least one member of the genus, Edgeworthia chrysantha, has the extremely unusual ability to branch trichotomously - the apical meristem forming the end of each stem splits into three sections at once. to see if it helps. ), but I thought Id tell you 2 things: 1. They were not happy. Also, would water absorbing/ retaining additives, root-grow fungi to the planting mix, pebbles around the base to keep it cool in summer, to help it survive a drought, if there would be noone to water it? The Irish botanistMichael Pakenham Edgeworth and his half sister Maria Edgeworth were both honoredwith the naming of this plant. Try These Other Edgeworthia Varieties. I recently acquired to beautiful plants that I am going to try in zone 5b, SE Michigan. Please use your imagination to envision how gorgeous this shrub must be covered with hundreds of the silky silver buds shown in the preceding photo. I only prune right after the flowers have faded. If she does not have a garden, just terrace, then I would suggest a big pot having its inner walls insulated with thick layer of vermiculite, vermiculite in the potting mix plus on top as a cover. edgeworthia varieties. Form with leaves in the fall in Moore County (right before leaves fall off), Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Snow Cream', winter, Leaves Close-Up (Durham County,NC)-Spring, Fall Leaf and Stem (Warren County,NC)-Early Fall, Stem and Leaf Underside (Warren County,NC)-Early Fall, Stem and branch (Warren County ,NC)-Mid Fall`, Leaves and furry flower head (Warren County, NC)-Fall, Furry flower head (Warren County, NC)-Early Winter, Flower buds and ice (Buncombe County, NC), Flowers covered in ice (Buncombe County, NC), Flower filaments (Buncombe County, NC)-Spring, Leaves & Furry Flowerhead - 2nd yr. seedling - Fall - Warren Co., - NC, Fall color leaves & bud - November - Warren Co., NC. So glad you commented on the scent because I just read an article that made me question my memory of how lovely it is. Hope that helps. The chloroplast genome-based and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based phylogenetic analyses using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) revealed . 1 Names and Identifiers. So glad you waited and thanks for letting us know. Send Explanation. I havent seen anything but chrysantha on the market for years now. The plant does send up a lot of shoots from the base which could be allowed to grow and fill in the plant if you dont like the bare branches. In Japan, the paper is used to make banknotes. So excitedI planted my first edgeworthia this fall, and Im anxiously awaiting its blooms. A number of leaves turned yellow and fell, while other stems showed what I would call wilt. drooping its leaves in afternoon sun. Barbara, I remember the first time I saw the buds. Grows 6' x 6', sun, part shade, shade, Z6b. If you are growing edgeworthia, please leave a comment describing your experience with it, especially if you are from an area north of the Delaware Valley. I have only seen three plants besides my two, and all three were in protected courtyard areas. This edgeworthia is pictured in mid-April on the terrace of the main house at Chanticleer gardens in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is not offered for sale up here by our suppliers and not grown at the tree and shrub nursery either. This photo was taken in September and the highly ornamental buds have formed but have not yet expanded. I would love to order an Edgeworthia for myself. Only plants will be removed from the collection. I think I may let one in a lesser seen part of my garden go multi-stemmed since the stability of the single stem as it ages on a slope may become an issue. Do you think providing some shade from a big umbrella or cover and covering the area around the trunk with stones would help the leaves not shrivel? Takes sun, part sun, shade, wet, dry. Carolyn. Edgeworthias buds start to open at the beginning of March in our area and as early as January in the south. And there are photos on google of it growing in containers.. The flower clusters vary from orange to red shade compared to the other Oriental paperbush with a yellowish tint. I cant imagine that it could grow in a pot. I have heard that the orange cultivar is not as hardy so I would love to hear back from you in future years. Any compost will do, it doesnt have to be from leaves. Edgeworthia is native to China and was named for Michael Edgeworth (1812 to 1881), a plant collector for the East India Company. It is still quite rare. One year later, voila. Starr, I hope everyone understands that I am not recommending an edgeworthia for zone 5. I prefer edgeworthia shaped to a single stem, but have seen it grown multi-stemmed also. I need advice as to the soil mix. Ive seen edgeworthia in a couple nurseries around here, and though the buds and blooms were beautiful, I thought the young plants looked awkward as they were basically a stick with a few measly little branches at the top. Mine is in an east-facing location with partial shade backed by shrubs and trees and a stone wall, which block winter winds from the northwest. I have never seen that happen but wilting can be a sign of too much water as well as too little. Carolyn. During the time that Edgeworthia is not flowering it still impresses, with lush long green tropical-looking leaves. What a beauty this must be to see in person. As always, Carolyn, you provide such fascinating information on plants! I have been wondering if it was the harsh winter, and whether it will bloom or not this year. Carolyn. Protect from strong winds. That said, Id run to buy one and not lose that year!!! Has anyone seen this behavior on their Edgeworthia? In January, white flower buds begin opening to wonderfully fragrant, golden-yellow, honeysuckle like flowers densely packed in round clusters that continue to April. Thank you so much for your beautiful pictures and valuable information. So please put me on your list my husband and I drive to Malvern often to visit our daughter and her family so we could easily pick it up on our way. It did partially die back one winter when it went down to -8, but no problems since. I bought 2 at the Scott sale last year, one of the species and one Red Dragon. Carolyn. Trying my first Camellia hybrid, April Kiss now. Starr Foster, Starr, I am not actually going to sell these plants until April. Do you have any experience with pests/diseases on this plant? I had never heard of Edgeworthia before (relatively new gardener) thats a beautiful looking shrub. I waited years for a few blooms on my Osmanthus frangrans aurantiacus, planted in similar conditions to the abundant blooming fragrans. The Edgeworthia paperbush flowers remain on the bush for three weeks. Foliage: Deciduous, alternate, simple, narrowly oblong, dark greenish blue. I am in 6b/7a, mostly 6b for the last few winters. We had a few days this past winter that were close to zero degrees with high winds, the blooms did not last as long as usual, but it still smelled heavenly and looks great today. Carolyn. I was out snapping photos of mine today and was stunned at just how pretty they can be. Your email address will not be published. Edgeworthia 'Akebono'. Edgeworthia chrysantha, commonly called paperbush or edgeworthia, is a deciduous suckering shrub that typically grows to 4-6' tall and as wide. Young leaves are covered with white, silky hairs. I live near New Hope so thats ve convenient! Perfect as a specimen plant, for shrub borders, foundation plantings, or containers. I dont care so much about the unattractive quality, I just dont want to lose one of my favorite shrubs of all time!! I never water mine and it thrives. I am glad you wrote in because I was thinking of trying it anyway because the flowers are so beautiful. The reason it is in a planter is because I want to smell that heavenly fragrance each time I come and go from my front door in the winter. Oriental Paperbush Diseases & Pests The only problem you might find is not watering your plant. I looked up care for edgeworthia and happened onto your Blog. I have grown it in my own garden for three years so I decided it was time for a full blown profile of what has become one of my favorite shrubs. It reaches about 5 tall and 6 wide. 3 Chemicals and Bioactivities Expand this section. I have concluded that edgeworthias are perfectly hardy in our zone. I do not fertilize mine but you could try it. Edgeworthia is best in light to moderate shade, in soils with lots of organic matter. Although there is some confusion about this, Red Dragon is a cultivar of a different species of edgeworthia, E. papyerifera, which is less hardy as you found out.