Paperbush
For the next couple weeks, most of us will be looking out at grey landscapes - thanks, Arctic Blast. But! There are blooms on the way, including from today's profiled plant.
With holiday joy mostly in the rearview and winter doldrums up ahead, it would be great to look to the garden for some sign of life. For those of us in temperate climates, those signs of life can be hard to come. Thankfully, this is exactly when the paperbush comes into its full glory.
Known scientifically as Edgeworthia Chrysantha, paperbushes are one of the BEST plants for bringing life into the winter garden. Starting in late January, paperbushes across the northern hemisphere will defeat the winter doldrums by bursting into bloom and cheering away the chilly cold with golden pom poms. But that’s not the only time to appreciate the paperbush.
Seasons of Interest
Spring. Paperbushes are late to leaf out, often having nubby leaflets a month or two past the last frost. Eventually they put out their long, blue-green almost tropical looking leaves.
Summer. Summar is when the leaves come into their full glory, at a time when other plants are wilting because of the intense heat.
Fall. Fall is probably the least enjoyable time for the paperbush. Its leaves turn a dull yellow, then casually drop off. Nothing to write home about.
Winter. This is the main reason to have a paperbush. Their open branching structure, revealed after the leaves are dropped, is striking. The bark is an interesting mottled, reddish grey-brown. When their yellow pom poms finally open, they are truly a sight to behold. What’s more, the flowers are incredibly fragrant, often described as having a scent like a winter gardenia. What more could you want?!
How to Grow
Paperbushes prefer fertile, moist, well-drained spots in the partial shade. Stick them in a forest scene with good soil below and tall trees above, and they will thrive. I’ve even seen them manage in quite a bit more sun here in Atlanta - sometimes even in full sun.
That said, while paperbushes are tough, they will perform their best if you dig out the intended planting area and mix some compost into the soil (especially if you’re planting in clay soils!). The key cultivation requirements are below.
Mature size: 6’x6’
Hardiness Zones: 7-10
Sun: Partial Sun / Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained, rich, amended
Water: Moderate needs. Supplement in very hot weather or drought.
Planting Inspiration
Winter, winter, winter! Paperbushes are stars in the winter garden when not much else is awake. Given an evergreen backdrop, the bark, plant structure, and yellow flowers will really pop. A few suggestions out of the gate:
Cast iron plants. Big, luxuriant leaves that retain their color well in winter are a perfect backdrop or groundcover companion.
Evergreen hollies. With their very dark, blue-based green leaves, evergreen hollies will really make the yellow flowers pop.
Conifers. Ever reliable, conifers can also make a great tall, slender companion. By pairing paperbush with japanese conifers, you can create a very successful Japanese forest scene.
In warmer seasons when the paperbush still has its beautiful, large leaves, the plant’s shape is the perfect complement to tall, thin plants or finer-textured low growers. Things like:
Ferns. Magical forest scenes in the hottest days of the year. ✨
Yews. And Japanese plum yews too! The spreading plum yews or the prostate plum yews are especially well-suited.
Arborvitae. Tall, thin and with delicate foliage! The perfect companion?
Get Your Own
I’ve found these plants everywhere from boutique nurseries to chain garden stores. From what I’ve seen, they have yet to turn up at a Lowe’s or Home Depot. Stores are most likely to be carrying paperbushes near their peak season of interest, so you’ll have the best luck in winter or spring.
Store Recommendation. I’ve found paperbushes for verrrrrrry good prices at Grower’s Outlet in Loganville, GA.
Free plants? Paperbushes are easy plants to propagate, so kind gardening friends who already have one could be good sources for future plants. There are 2 easy methods to propagate:
Stem Cuttings. These should be taken in summer on stems that are just right: that is, neither totally new and green nor really old and woody. Dip these cuttings in rooting hormone and put in soil that you keep moist (not wet, not dry).
Root Suckers. Mature paperbushes will start to sucker out from the original stem. These suckers can be dug up - make sure to save as much of the roots as you can - and replanted in a new location or pot.
Dig Deeper
The name Edgeworthia was given to this plant in honor of Irish botanist Michael Pakenham Edgeworth. Chrysantha comes from ancient Greek, meaning gold flowers, in reference to the delightful wintertime blooms.
The common name, paperbush, is a result of its use in Asian countries for paper making. The inner bark is soaked, processed, and formed into durable sheets of paper, including the paper used for Japanese currency.