Edgeworthia chrysantha Grandiflora - Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha Nanjing Gold is a variety of paper bush, larger and more spectacular than the species in foliage and flowers. This deciduous bush, also known as Golden Paper Bush, is a close relative of daphnes, with which it shares a fabulous winter flowering. Its tubular, yellow to white flowers,  cluster in fluffy balls at the end of bare branches from February, exhaling a heady fragrance where notes of jasmine and honeysuckle blend. The paper tree is a very beautiful, moderately hardy plant that is reserved for experienced gardeners: it requires a humid and mild coastal climate, a very sunny exposure, and a non-chalky, humus-rich, well-drained and moist soil.

Edgeworthia chrysantha (synonym E. tomentosa) is a close cousin of daphnes, belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family. It is the only species in the garden known for its ornamental qualities, and its use in the production of luxury paper. This bush is native to central China, where it is found in forests, on riverbanks, or on bushy slopes, at an altitude between 300 and 1600 m (984 ft 4 in and 5249 ft 4 in). This plant has naturalized in Japan and on the south coast of Korea due to intensive cultivation. The plant's lifespan ranges from 30 to 60 years.

The cultivar 'Nanjing Gold' is a recent creation, still not widely available in the market. This shrub with a bushy slow-growing habit, reaches about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height. Its very short trunk disappears as peripheral branches emerge. The thick, flexible, reddish-brown branches, branch out very regularly into three secondary branches. Flowering takes place in February-March, for about a month, at the end of bare branches. The flower buds, protected by pretty silver bracts, are carried by a curved peduncle that straightens up when flowering begins. The buds unfold into pale green hemispherical umbels that open from the centre to the edge and have 30 to 50 small flowers, measuring about 5 mm (0.2 in). Each flower is composed of a silky white tube widening into 4 golden yellow lobes, fading to white, so that the inflorescence appears bicolour. These nectar-rich flowers exude a heady fragrance in calm weather, attracting bumblebees or the first bees. The scent resembles cloves, jasmine, or honeysuckle. The flowers are followed by the formation of non-edible fruits.

Deciduous, exotic-looking foliage which is more abundant and larger than in the species, appears towards the ends of the branches after flowering. It consists of large alternate, lanceolate leaves, reaching up to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length. The strongly veined leaf is shiny, greenish-blue on the upper side, lighter and silky on the underside. In hot weather, the leaves tend to wilt and fall prematurely.

Edgeworthia Nanjing Gold is a collector's shrub, to be highlighted near a passage or entrance to enjoy its fragrance. If it is not more widely planted in our gardens, that's due to its relatively low hardiness, around -12°C in a sheltered position, the sensitivity of its flowers to dry and icy winds, and its aversion to heat. Like rhododendrons, it does not tolerate the presence of limestone and requires soil that remains moist but well-drained. It will naturally fit alongside other acid-loving shrubs such as Camellias, Pieris, Kalmias, and tree heathers.

Also called Mistumata or paper tree, the Edgeworthia chrysantha is used in Japan to make high-quality paper: washi. The resulting pulp gives the paper a unique texture and makes it resistant to the effects of time, humidity, and insects.