Edgeworthia

( ej - WORTH - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Edgeworthia is a genus filled with unique species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs that require full sun or light shade and regular water to perform well in the garden. Blooming branch cuttings are handsome in arrangements. When not in bloom, these shrubs are clothed in handsome foliage, and provide summertime greenery to gardens. Species are native to Asia, and their apical meristems splits into three sections at once, a trait shared with no other flowering plant species. Use these shrubs as accents or specimens in mixed beds and borders, or grow them as members of cut flower gardens. Take care when planting these shrubs in the garden, as plant parts are considered mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Edgeworthia Species and Varietals

The genus Edgeworthia is a member of the plant family Thymelaeaceae, and includes 5 species. The genus was named for Michael Packenham Edgeworth, an Irish botanist active in the early 1800s. Edgeworthia shrubs grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset growing zones 5-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Edgeworthia chrysantha (Oriental Paperbush, Mitsumata, Paperbush, Yellow Daphne)
This species of Edgeworthia is native to Myanmar and China, reaching 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 6 feet wide at maturity. Stems grow directly from the base of the plant and produce flowers in late winter to early spring. Blooms are strongly fragrant and pale yellow, forming in clusters. Cultivars of this species include 'Snow Cream' (with larger flowers than the species), 'Akebono' (also called 'Red Dragon', with orange-red blooms on a compact plant), 'Gold Rush' (with bright yellow blossoms), and 'Windcliff Sunrise' (with Mango-colored flowers).

Edgeworthia gardneri (Daphne gardneri) (Indian Papertree, Nepalese Paperbush, Argelee, Argeli, लोकता, लोक्ता, अर्गेली )
This evergreen species of Paperbush is native to the Himalayan mountain ranges in Bhutan, Burma, China, India, and Nepal. It is widely planted as an ornamental in gardens, and was traditionally used to make hand-made paper. Individual plants reach up to 10-13 feet tall at maturity. Flowers are bright yellow and form in rounded inflorescences toward branch tips. Leaves are green and leathery.

Caring for Edgeworthia

Plant Edgeworthia shrubs in a space in the landscape that receives full sun to light shade; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. When mature, Edgeworthia shrubs appreciate a consistently moist root zone, but do not like to have standing water around their feet. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Monitor for wilting in summertime.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prune only to remove dead or diseased branches and unwanted suckers. These shrubs will send up shoots via rhizomes, increasing their size over time, but they are not considered invasive. Immediately after flowering is the best time to prune, as these shrubs bloom on old wood and pruning them at the wrong time can remove the next season's blossoms. Paperbush reaches maturity in 4-6 years. Edgeworthia shrubs are considered moderately long-lived, able to survive in the landscape for 10-20 years with proper care before needing to be replaced.

Harvesting Edgeworthia
Edgeworthia shrubs are prized for their cut flowers, which last for a very long time in arrangements. They are in bloom from late winter to early spring, and flowers appear before leafout. Choose branches for cutting that have buds that are just beginning to open up. The best time to harvest is in the morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharp shears, cut stems at a 45 degree angle just above a node. Drop the harvested flower stems into a bucket of cool water, and then bring them indoors to arrange them. These flowering stems have a vase life of 10-14 days. They can also be dried by hanging them upside down in a dark, cool, dry area with good ventilation. The flowers will hold their shape well when dried, but do lose their vibrant color and scent within a year.

Propagation

Paper Bush can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Edgeworthia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more semi-hardwood 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower two thirds. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Edgeworthia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds in late springtime, once flowers have been pollinated and faded. Store the seeds in an airtight container until you are ready to plant them, and keep them a little moist.
In springtime, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 8-12 weeks from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home. If temperatures are lower than 70 degrees outdoors when you plant your Paper Bush, make sure to slowly introduce the shrub to the cooler temperatures before planting, as this will lessen the effects of transplant shock.

Once Paper Bush flowers fade, seeds will be left behind on branches, and can be collected for propagation.

Paper Bush seeds are relatively small, and should be kept moist until ready to be planted.

Problems and Pests

Edgeworthia does not suffer from pest or disease problems. For information about commonly-encountered pest and disease issues in the home garden, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues