Edgeworthia chrysantha

Common Names

Paperbush, Paper Bush, Yellow Daphne, Oriental Paper Bush, Oriental Paperbush, Mitsumata, Chinese Paperbush, Edgeworthia Paperbush, Paperbush Plant, Edgeworthia

Summary

Edgeworthia chrysantha is a deciduous shrub native to the Himalayas and China, forming a rounded, open, multi-stem habit. It features fragrant canary-yellow tubular flowers on the tips of bare branches from February to April, with buds coated in silky white hairs, and narrow dark green leaves with a papery bark, providing striking winter fragrance and interest; it typically grows to 1–1.5 metres tall and wide.

It prefers moist, well-drained humus-rich loam and thrives in sun to partial shade in a sheltered position, with protection from frost in colder areas and possible placement against a warm south-facing wall; mulch in autumn and prune after flowering to remove dead or damaged wood, as flowering occurs on old wood and propagation is by summer cuttings rooted in a cool, frost-free environment. It is hardy to about -5°C, commonly listed for zones 7–10, and is grown in borders or containers for its winter fragrance and late-winter to early-spring display.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-6 feet

Spread

48-72 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade, Full Shade is not ideal.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Broad pH tolerance; no specific ideal pH (acidic to alkaline).

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring (late winter to early spring)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Layering, Cuttings, Division, Root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators