Edgeworthia or Paperbush Plant. I cannot think of any other plant that gets me more excited about its winter display than this plant. I don't think there is any plant that we grow that we have had more requests to release than this one either. It attracts endless attention in our garden every winter. This is a close relative of Daphne in the family Thymelaeaceae and produces 2" terminal umbels of yellow narcissus-scented flowers from late January through February, and with a colder winter, on into March, resembling a giant yellow Daphne. The terminal flower buds are formed in late summer and remain prominent, being a point of interest throughout the winter. We have made a great effort to find the best clone of this plant to offer. There are many on the market, but we feel that this one is the best we have seen. John Elsley, whom I consider one of the premier gardeners in America says that every southern garden needs an Edgeworthia. This species is far superior in ALL respects to E. papyrifera, which gets the typical Daphne malady of being beautiful today and dead tomorrow. Grow in the same conditions as one would a big leaf Hydrangea, filtered sun with adequate moisture and good drainage. Many of our customers in north Florida says that it is one of their best performers in the garden. We had a visiting group from China several years ago, and they were so excited to see us growing this species. They emphasized that all official documents in China are made from the bark of this plant, and that orchards of Edgeworthia are grown there for this purpose. The plants are cut to the ground each fall when the branches are stripped for the manufacturing process. One of our customers sent me pictures on his plant that he had purchased from us looking out of their living room window on Cape Cod. It was a specimen about 5' high and 8' across and covered with flowers. The last picture below is his plant.
