PlantFiles: Oriental Paper Bush
Edgeworthia chrysantha

I Planted one last fall (Sep) and it held onto it’s leaves later than I expected it to. No leaf drop until they were frozen brown and crisp by a hard freeze sometime in December. It bloomed here in SE NC throughout Feb, and as expected smelled awesome. The DG profile list this plant as “full sun” but I suspect early morning sun only would be best. Mine gets full sun until around noon, and the newest growth looks very droopy from 11:00 until it is shaded by nearby trees. I saw a nursery plant growing in full shade and the leaves are much larger (2x) than mine, and this gives it a fuller look. When planting this shrub, I was worried about not having full sun (based on the exposure listing here). However, given my experience I wish I had planted it in an even more shaded location.

Planted this in late summer in an opening in my border and it had a very difficult transition. Our weather here in Portland, OR vicinity has been changing, with extended periods of high heat (over 93) rather than the single days that we used to get. So about two weeks after I planted, it was really hit hard by several days of full sun in the upper 90's and started to seriously wilt. And, though now I read it doesn't like to be moved, I felt I had to move it or lose it. So I shifted it about six feet to be under the dappled shade of a Japanese maple. It was like a revelation! Came back splendidly. The maple it's next to is a burgundy color; other surrounding plants are older small pines. The tips of its branches have been positively glowing in the garden next to the other darker plantings. It's brought a bright spot of interest and now I look forward to its next act: its yellow blossoms & scented bloom!

My beautiful Edgeworthia did splendidly until I put totally composted and sterile dairy cow manure on as mulch. I'm guessing it blocked water absorption, but I am not sure. There are more babies growing
so instead of cutting off as suckers, I'll choose a strong one and start over. If anyone has any input on this tragedy as to why it happened, I would love to hear about it.

PlantFiles lists E. papyrifera as synonymous with E. chrysantha but there is disagreement about this. Some consider them to be separate species, with E. chrysantha having yellow flowers and being a bit more cold-hardy than E. papyrifera which has white flowers.

This plant grows beautifully in zone 7b, Athens, GA, as well. Mine is planted in western exposure and is in full flower right now.

The plant is just reaching nurseries in Georgia and is being displayed as a fragrant show plant. Has been grown in Europe for over 100 years (UK). Originally from China. Hardy to zone 8, flowers: Feb-Apr with both male and female organs. Likes the west side of a wall or building in well drained soil. Does not like root disturbance, plant once. Can be raised from seed but requires up to 12 months going thru 8-12 wks 20 C then 12-14 wks of 3 C. Take half-ripe cuttings in Spring. Also called the Golden Daphne. The flower head is extremely fragrant but delicate.

Deciduous spreading shrub from central China gets up to 6' tall. Clusters of fragrant creamy yellow flowers which are covered on the outside with silky hairs,appear on the ends of the branches in late winter and early spring. It has long narrow leaves and tough, flexible stems. This variety is used in Japan to make banknote paper. There is also a reddish-orange flowered form known as 'Red Dragon'.