Edgeworthia chrysantha
One of the greatest joys of being a plant enthusiast, I think, is stumbling upon and having the chance to learn a new plant, especially one as unique and unusual as this month’s Plant of the Month. Edgeworthia chrysantha, known commonly as the paperbush or simply as Edgeworthia, is a largely unknown shrub, related to daphne. In my year with the Scott Arboretum, I’ve enjoyed observing how this deciduous shrub progresses through the seasons.
When I first saw Edgeworthia in the Isabelle Cosby Courtyard this past summer, it was covered with narrow oblanceolate leaves, forming a neat, round form, characteristic of edgeworthia. Towards the end of the summer, flower buds began forming at the branch tips of this specimen; these were the buds that were to serve as this spring’s flowers, the ones that are beautifully in bloom now. Moving into the fall-once the leaves of E. chrysantha fell-the large white flower buds provided ornamental value that lasted through the winter. And just last month, the edgeworthia buds began to open, revealing bright yellow, tubular flowers with a sweet fragrance. This is definitely a unique sight, one worth seeking out, and one that is on display now at the Scott Arboretum!
Edgeworthia chrysantha in Cosby Courtyard. photo credit: R. Maurer
The Edgeworthia chrysantha in the Cosby Courtyard is arguably the best specimen on campus, illustrating a nearly perfect form. However, another example of a mature edgeworthia plant can be found in the Terry Shane Teaching garden and two very small specimens can be found in the Harry Wood Garden and south of Martin Hall. To develop the best possible form, E. chrysantha should be grown in full sun. Our curator, Andrew Bunting, also suggests planting edgeworthia close to entryways or pathways, so that its spring fragrance can be best appreciated!
Come out to visit the Scott Arboretum this month, to observe this beautiful unusual plant as well as others!
Barbara Shaw April 24, 2009 at 10:45 am
Miriam,
When is the best time to prune an edgeworthia if you want to keep it small?
Miriam April 24, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Barbara,
Thanks for your question! Edgeworthia does not really like being pruned, so I wouldn’t make a regular habit of it. But, if you do decide to prune yours, do so after the plant has finished flowering.
Philip Schumacher April 28, 2009 at 6:46 am
Is suckering a regular habit of Edgeworthii and is it a yearly pruning issue?
Miriam April 28, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Philip,
Yes, Edgeworthia does sucker and that is normal. However, yearly pruning is not an issue for this plant and pruning is best avoided.
Karen Krohn September 25, 2009 at 11:30 am
Miriam,
Do you know if they cover the Edgeworthia for the winter?
I live in CT (zone 6 but warming). I covered mine last year and most of the blossoms dried and fell off. Any suggestions? Thanks. Karen
Andrew Bunting September 28, 2009 at 10:46 am
I would think that Edgeworthia is not flower hardy in zone 6. Here in Swarthmore, USDA Zone 7, we sometimes will get flower kill during the colder winters.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Felicia December 29, 2009 at 3:10 am
Is Swarthmore really zone 7? I live in Wynnewood, PA and I thought that was zone 6b, but it is only a few miles away from Swarthmore. I planted a Edgeworthia last spring based on the Scott Arboretum’s successes with these plants. Anything special I should do to help it survive?
Andrew Bunting January 5, 2010 at 2:03 pm
According to the lasest USDA hardiness map Swarthmore is Zone 7. I have noticed slight hardiness differences between Swarthmore and Wayne and Chestnut Hill, etc. Therefore, if you can give your Edgeworthia a little winter protection that will ensure that the buds survive the winter since they are set the previous fall before spring flowering.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Jim Collin January 18, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I am testing Edgeworthia chrysantha in San Francisco, California. Year three, 2010, and it is doing extraordinarily well despite our cool, wet winters.
Larry Weaver March 22, 2010 at 1:20 pm
3/23/2010
I bought our Edgeworthia at the Swathmore plants sale last Fall and planted it in Chalfont, PA. 6B, 20 miles north of Swathmore. We are pleased to anounce the opening of all 15 buds, such as they are, despite temps in the teens this winter. We planted the new addition on the south side of our house and protected all sides but the South with burlap. This specimen has a single trunk measuring about 10″ above the ground with four lateral primary branches. I would like to improve it’s shape. Will the suckers if they develop, produce flowers eventually? FYI, I did see an Edgeworthia at the Baywoods golf club in DE at the first tee. I though it too needed some serious shaping help, or maybe it didn’t…
Randy February 24, 2011 at 6:44 pm
We have a beautiful edgeworthia in our back yard next to our pond. It’s a woodland setting, getting both shade and sun. I’m glad I never pruned it, especially after reading some of the advice. :) We love it, the scent is great and the plant does well here in Atlanta, GA.
aaron March 29, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I have two edgeworthia’s on the estate i run i planted them in late autumn and they where snowed on very quickly and the 3 x 3 branches off from one another have gone yellow and soft inside but it is like it has only effected the last years growth, should i cut them back to a healthy point now? or wait until late summer? i am 19 and very new to horticulture and have been thrown in the deep end!! trying my best so swimm!! but the edgeworthia’s are right on my clients pattio so i want to get them sorted a,s,a,p!! thankyou for any advise!
Aaron Scott
Linda May 12, 2011 at 4:19 pm
My edgeworthia was planted last spring. I’m in Durham, NC. It is May and there are still no leaves. There are leaves growing on the very tip of bare branches. There are two suckers coming up and they are full of leaves. What should I do?
Kathryn Goodson June 2, 2011 at 5:09 am
Is edgeworthia deer resistant?
frank wong July 6, 2011 at 12:15 am
wondering if my edgeworthia stems and leave are dying -is it ok to break off the dead leaves and stems-it’s summer here,portland,ore(zone 8?)do I need to put mulch down before the winter .2 plants on a slope with alot of drainage.any suggestion?
thanks
Andrew Bunting July 6, 2011 at 8:46 am
Is your plant sprouting at the base? If so, prune off any dead leaves or stems.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
John Antonetti October 10, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I have seen this shrub in Atlanta and St. Louis, but cannot find it for sale. Does anybody know a reliable source for a fairly large plant? I’m in Little Rock and willing to pay for a larger plant to be shipped (or even picked up while I’m traveling).
Thanks!
John
Liane Schleifer December 4, 2011 at 7:12 am
I first saw this plant 20 years ago at the Atlanta Botanical Garden but couldn’t find one anywhere. Two years later, I paid $35 at the Atlanta Garden Show for a twig with two tips. Two years later, it flourished. That first variety was papyfera with smaller leaves than chrysantha, and it didn’t survive a move or overwinter for my northern mom. Since then, chrysantha has proven hardier and I have several, one which does require pruning because of placement. It has always responded well to pruning for me. It’s easy to make more too. Let a ground shoot or two grow, push the stem under the soil, add a brick on top and wait a year or two for nice roots to develop. My mom in West Chester and sis in Germantown both have beautiful specimens they’ve grown for years purchased from Picadilly Nursery in Georgia.
Ann Mabry January 23, 2012 at 6:55 pm
I have been unable to find the edgeworthia plant to purchase it in my area (eastern Tennessee). I would love to find a source for it’s purchase!