Paperbush will add much-needed color to the winter garden with its extremely fragrant, unique white and yellow flowers. The bluish-green leaves turn yellow in autumn and eventually drop to the ground, showcasing the silvery flower buds formed throughout the summer. Early-winter highlights the reddish-brown bark and rounded structure of the plant, but the real display occurs in late winter when the fuzzy silver flower buds open to a golden yellow. The flowers have a waxy appearance and last for weeks, attracting early-season pollinators to the garden. Extend the flowering season in your garden with this easy-care, low-maintenance shrub.
YUYA KIKUCHI / GETTY IMAGES
Paperbush Overview
Where to Plant Paperbush
Paperbush should be planted where it will receive protection from the midday sun, in a spot with slightly acidic to neutral pH soil. Choose a site near a walkway or the front of your house to appreciate the incredible fragrance of the flowers when they bloom between January and March. Consider a location near a window, or with a backdrop of evergreens to highlight the winter flowers. If planted too far away from the house, or without a backdrop, the white and yellow flowers can become lost in the muffling blanket of a winter snow.
How and When to Plant Paperbush
The best time to plant a new paperbush shrub is in spring or autumn. This will allow enough time for the plant to develop new roots before the heat of summer or a winter freeze. Dig a hole 1-2 inches shallower than the depth of the rootball, and as wide as possible to allow roots to grow into the surrounding soil. Ensure that the bottom of the hole is firm, or the plant may settle in subsequent seasons.
Backfill with the soil you removed from the hole. This will allow the plant to quickly become established in the native soil. Amending the soil in the planting hole can create a “bathtub” effect, where the roots do not grow out into the native soil and instead circle in the nutrient-rich planting hole. This can choke the plant, reduce its stability in heavy rains and wind, and further limit its drought tolerance due to limited root growth.
The location should receive morning sun, or filtered sunlight throughout the day. Avoid direct midday sun. This shrub can grow quite large, up to 8 feet tall and wide, so choose a location large enough to allow the plant to reach its mature size without competition from other plants.
Paperbush Care Tips
Paperbush is a low-maintenance shrub that does best in partial sun and moist, well-drained soil. Protect paperbush from dry winter winds to ensure a prolific flower display in mid- to late winter.
Light
The optimal location is bright filtered sun throughout the day, or direct morning sun with protection from the more intense afternoon sun. Paperbush grown in cooler climates will generally tolerate more sunlight than plants grown closer to the equator. Either way, paperbush needs sunlight to bloom, but may not thrive in full sun conditions. The overall growth on plants in too much shade will be thin, with reduced vigor and a less impressive flower display.
Soil and Water
Paperbush grows best in well-drained soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Average garden soil rich in humus is ideal.
This plant requires regular water throughout the growing season, but will not grow in perpetually wet soil. If the leaves begin to droop but the soil is still damp, the plant is likely suffering from too much moisture. Allow the water to dissipate before watering again. If your plant is growing in the root zone of a large tree, it may need additional water throughout the season due to root competition.
Established plants can survive short periods of drought, but paperbush should not be considered drought tolerant. Maintain regular moisture to ensure a healthy plant.
Temperature and Humidity
This shrub tolerates heat and humidity, provided it receives adequate protection from direct sunlight. Plant paperbush where it will receive protection from frigid winter winds in regions with winter temperatures that regularly dip to 10°F or less. Consider planting paperbush where it will receive reflected heat from surrounding structures or hardscapes in especially cold climates.
Fertilizer
Paperbush does not require additional fertilizer when grown in average garden soil. A yearly application of compost spread around the root zone is enough for a healthy plant.
Pruning
Paperbush shrubs do not respond well to aggressive pruning. Heavy pruning will weaken the plant, so it is crucial to select a planting location to allow the plant to reach its mature size. Limit your pruning to removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches and removing the suckers that may grow directly from the roots of the parent plant. Generally, paperbush plants are uniform growers and do not need shaping to maintain a pleasing form.
Growing Paperbush in Pots
Paperbush shrubs are not good candidates for growing in planters. If using a container is your only option, choose the largest planter possible and select a smaller variety such as ‘Gold Rush.’ Provide the plant with regular moisture and keep it out of direct sunlight. Remember, plants grown above ground in containers will not receive the natural insulating benefits of the ground in winter. Be sure to place the planter in a protected area in cold climates.
Pests and Problems
Paperbush is usually free of major pests and diseases. The most important thing to consider when growing paperbush is whether or not it is the right plant for the location. Avoid excessive fertilizer, provide regular water, limit root competition from neighboring trees and shrubs, and avoid direct midday sun to ensure that your plants remain healthy.
How to Propagate Paperbush
The easiest way to propagate your paperbush plant is to dig up a root sucker and transplant it to a new location. Paperbush plants will often develop new shoots emerging from the ground throughout the root zone. As these shoots mature they can transition an attractive and rounded shrub into a wild-looking thicket.
In spring or early autumn, choose a sucker that is growing towards the outside of the plant. Gently expose the roots and use sharp garden shears to remove a section of root (attached to the sucker you want to transplant) that is at least 3 inches long, preferably longer. Transplant the sucker to a new location and water regularly for the remainder of the season.
Another option is to take stem cuttings in summer. The base of the cutting should be firm, while the tip of the cutting should be soft and actively growing. Cuttings should be 2-4 inches long and made below a leaf node (the bump on the stem where a leaf will emerge.) Use clean pruning shears to avoid crushing the stem when taking the cuttings, then remove any side shoots. Apply a rooting hormone before placing the cut end of the cutting into moist potting mix. Use a mist system to provide humidity while the cutting develops new roots, or place a clear plastic tent over the cuttings to maintain a humid environment. Check the cuttings daily, ensure that the soil does not dry out, and mist the cuttings with water until new roots develop.
Types of Paperbush
‘Snow Cream’ Paperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Snow Cream’ grows 8 feet tall and wide, has yellow flowers, and is considered hardier than many selections. It can reportedly tolerate temperatures below 0°F.
‘Nanjing Gold’ Paperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Nanjing Gold’ paperbush grows to 6 feet tall and wide and sports lemon-yellow flowers that appear more vibrant than the gold-yellow of many selections.
‘Winter Gold’ Paperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Winter Gold’ is a highly fragrant selection of paperbush that sports golden-yellow flowers and grows up to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
‘Gold Rush’ Paperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Gold Rush’ is smaller than many selections, reaching 5 feet tall and wide. It is a good selection for homeowners with limited space.
‘Red Dragon’ (syn. ‘Akebono’) Paperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Red Dragon’ flowers are dark-orange to an orangish-red, reportedly varying with the temperature. This difficult-to-source selection grows to 6 feet tall and wide.
Paperbush Companion Plants
Barrenwort
Barrenworts (Epimedium spp.) are an excellent choice for a semi-woody groundcover in areas with little direct sunlight. The spring blooms will extend the flowering season around your paperbush with tiny flowers that invite closer inspection.
Holly
Evergreen types of holly (Ilex spp.) provide a darker backdrop that helps spotlight the bright paperbush flowers in winter. This is especially helpful in areas that receive regular snowfall, which can obscure the paperbush flowers in a blanket of white and cause them to fade into the background in the stark winter landscape.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
The coarse texture and irregular habit of oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) highlights the uniformity of the blue-green leaves of paperbush. Both plants provide excellent winter interest thanks to oakleaf hydrangea’s bark and paperbush’s flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do deer eat paperbush?No, deer will not usually eat paperbush, but of course, a hungry enough deer will eat almost anything. Apply deer repellent if you notice deer browsing on your plants. Follow the instructions on the label. The goal of deer repellent is to deter the deer and train them to stay away. It is important to continue applications even when it seems the deer have moved on.
No, deer will not usually eat paperbush, but of course, a hungry enough deer will eat almost anything. Apply deer repellent if you notice deer browsing on your plants. Follow the instructions on the label. The goal of deer repellent is to deter the deer and train them to stay away. It is important to continue applications even when it seems the deer have moved on.
- Are Edgeworthia chrysantha and Edgeworthia papyrifera the same plant?In the past, scientists differentiated between E. chrysantha and E. papyrifera. Currently, E. papyrifera is no longer considered a separate species and is now an accepted synonym of E. chrysantha. However, some argue that E. chrysantha is a larger, more robust plant with better cold tolerance and more fragrant flowers and suggest that E. papyrifera is all-around smaller and more delicate in appearance, with thinner leaves and a less intense fragrance.
In the past, scientists differentiated between E. chrysantha and E. papyrifera. Currently, E. papyrifera is no longer considered a separate species and is now an accepted synonym of E. chrysantha. However, some argue that E. chrysantha is a larger, more robust plant with better cold tolerance and more fragrant flowers and suggest that E. papyrifera is all-around smaller and more delicate in appearance, with thinner leaves and a less intense fragrance.