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Edgeworthia papyrifera

Common name:	Paperbush	Family:	Thymelaeaceae
Author:	Siebold.& Zucc.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China.
Habitat:	Forests and streamsides, at elevations of 300 - 1600 metres in Ichang Province[109, 200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	E. chrysantha[B,G,P] E. tomentosa[B,P] Edgworthia chrysantha[H] Edgworthia papyrifera[H]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Oriental Paperbush [P,B],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	papyrifer = paper bearing papyrifera = paper bearing
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Myrtales. Mezereum family

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 2.5m by 2m . It is hardy to zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from February to April. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Paper String.

A high-class paper is made from the bark[1, 11, 58, 61, 200]. The bark fibres are used[61]. The stems are harvested in spring or early summer, the leaves are removed and the stems steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The outer bark is removed from the inner by peeling or scraping. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with soda ash and then beaten with mallets or put through a blender. The paper is off white in colour[189].
The stems are extremely supple and can be tied in knots[11, 182].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any soil in sun or part shade[175, 184, 200], growing well in light woodland[200]. Prefers a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season[1, 200].
Plants are hardy to about -15° c according to one report[184], whilst others say that it is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain[1, 11]. It succeeds on a wall at Kew[K] and as a free-standing shrub in &ndndndnd[11]. The flowers are damaged by frost, so the plant is best grown on a south or west-facing wall[188].
Plants resent root disturbance and should be put into their permanent positions as soon as possible[188].
Cultivated in Japan for the paper that can be made from the bark[11, 200]. The stems are harvested every second year[61].
This species is very closely related to and scarcely distinct from E. gardneri and E. chrysantha[200].
The flowers diffuse a pronounced clove-like perfume and will scent the air to some distance on a calm day[245].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Place the pot in a plastic bag to keep it moist[175]. The seed might germinate in the spring, though it could take another 12 months. Stored seed usually requires 8 - 12 weeks warm stratification at 20° c followed by 12 - 14 weeks at 3° c[175]. Germination can still take 12 months or more at 15° c[175]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and grow on in a greenhouse for at least a year before planting out in late spring or early summer[175]. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings in spring.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers diffuse a pronounced clove-like perfume and will scent the air to some distance on a calm day.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Edgworthia papyrifera (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database

References for the family Thymelaeaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[109] Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader.

[175] Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Corydalis spp.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[189] Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988
A good practical section on how to make paper on a small scale plus details of about 75 species (quite a few of them tropical) that can be used.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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