Edgeworthia chrysantha Seeds | Paperbush
LATIN NAME: Edgeworthia chrysantha
COMMON NAME: Paperbush
Plant Profile
Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) grows as a fine, generous shrub. Open, many-branched shrub carries soft, silvery, downy leaves on arching branches, and clusters of small, tubular, fragrant flowers open on bare stems before the leaves. Papery bark of shoots has a long record of use for making of fine paper, which is where plant gets its name. It is a fine, generous shrub of warm, sheltered garden. Pollinating insects take to the flowers at once, adding a little wildlife interest to its garden value. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Edgeworthia chrysantha ranges from the botany of the Edgeworthia group to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Paperbush has a steady and growing place in plant science, and it has been studied for its fragrant, winter flowers and its long record of use in the east. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Paperbush brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Paperbush is grown for fragrant, winter flowers and papery bark. Round, cream-yellow, fragrant heads open on bare stems in late winter, one of the very first flowers of the year, and they are a fine early food for the bees of the season. Papery bark of shoots has a long record of use for fine paper and craft work in the east. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Paperbush bark yields superb traditional paper fiber in East Asia, and its honey-scented late-winter flowers are a garden treasure.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Paperbush under ordinary good conditions. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Grow the youngsters on steadily in pots until well rooted, then move them to their final positions.
Our Take
Paperbush has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Plant it in sun with drainage to its liking and the rest is easy.
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