This workhorse shines all year long but peaks with its early-season display of fragrant blooms
Edgeworthia ( Edgeworthia chrysantha , Zones 7–10 ) is rightfully a four - time of year plant . In summertime , it ’s covered in beautiful , elongate , 5 - inch - long leaves that hold droplets of water on their finely pubescent surfaces . In fall , leave drop to reveal a attractively integrated plant life with odorous - smell winter flowers . I am compelled to say the flower that flower from midwinter to midspring are the true show - conversation stopper and how most gardeners are introduce to this plant . Their fragrance is captivating and is often noticed before they are seen . Edgeworthia is hardy for almost our entire realm when it ’s sited by rights . Even in a protect Zone 6 , it is possible to turn it . Spring planting seems to be the trick to getting it off to the correct start .
Proper conditions and mature size
In its native China , you ’ll recover edgeworthia growing in stream banks and at the edge of woodlands . In the Southeast , partial shade or even full shade are appropriate . It find oneself a well-chosen family in areas with rich , constituent soils that do n’t completely dry out out . Edgeworthia quickly forms a multistemmed woody shrub that ’s up to 6 foot tall and all-inclusive when give the right farm experimental condition . I have see specimens larger than 6 feet tall in tender areas of the region , but it ’s uncommon . Training a plant to a single stem can also be a gracious consequence . Those familiar with the nearly come to plant daphne ( Daphnespp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) might recognise some similar characteristic .
Interesting history
When I was first introduced to this industrial plant , I assumed that its usual name , newspaper bush , was in reference to its paper - lean leaves . However , the name refers to paper products made from the woody bark and stems of the plant . Both edgeworthia and daphne have traditionally been used to make ok paper when strength was also required . For those interested in botanic nomenclature and taxonomy , you will lead into confusion with this plant . You will most often find the nameEdgewothia chrysanthain the patronage . But you may also track down intoE. papyrifera , which is sometimes used as a synonym forE. chrysanthaor to concern to a plant with overall smaller characteristic .
I add edgeworthia to almost any garden I ’m involved with that has an ounce of shade . There is something about this plant that makes me find like I ’ve gotten away with something when I see it flower in my garden . If you have the condition to support it , there is no rationality edgeworthia should not be sum up to your garden this year .
— Andy Pulte is a module penis in the plant sciences section at the University of Tennessee .
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Edgeworthia’s flowers are a creamy yellow, tan, and white.Photo: Andy Pulte
Edgeworthia has large, deeply lobed palmate foliage during the growing season.Photo: Andy Pulte
This shrub stays relatively small with a rounded growing habit.Photo: Andy Pulte
Edgeworthia flowers are said to smell similar to gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides, Zones 8–11) flowers, but they are a little bit spicier.Photo: Janet M. Jemmott
