Edgeworthia

This genus includes 2 species with heavy set woody shrubs with papery bark. The large, oval, pointed foliage is medium green and heavily felted when young.
They prefer fertile, light, moist, well drained soil in partial shade. They can be reproduced from seed, aerial layers and half hardened cuttings.

Edgeworthia chrysantha ( Paper Bush )
Native to southeastern & far eastern China ( naturalized in southern Japan ); this is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub or rarely a small tree; reaching up to 10 x 10 feet in 10 years. Some records include: 2nd year - 2.5 feet; 5 years - 4.5 x 6.5 feet.
The attractive, large, foliage is tropical looking and has a heavy midrib. The oblanceolate to oblong leaves are up to 10 x 2.3 inches in size. The foliage is deep blue-green, turning to yellow during autumn.
The flowers buds are fully developed by late autumn and open in late winter. The fragrant flowers are bright yellow aging to creamy white and are borne in rounded heads.
Small drupes follow the flowers.
The branching is heavy and coarse yet interesting.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 and possibly 6 on very protected sites including in the Philadelphia suburbs. It prefers protection from wind.

* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA



* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photos taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Mar 8 2018 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Jan 9 2020 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Bhutan Gold'
Reaches up to 10 feet.

'Gold Rush'
Larger than average flowers; otherwise identical.

* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Feb 8 2014 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Aug 19 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 18 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Jan 15 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 9 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 9 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 15 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 6 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 27 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Jan 27 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Feb 2 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Mar 26 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Mar 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 5 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 25 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Mar 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 11 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 18 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 29 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Mar 13 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 31 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 14 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Red Dragon'
Red flowers

'Snow Cream'
Averaging double the growth rate of other clones, reaching up to 10 x 15 feet but otherwise similar in appearance.
Hardy north to zone 7. Originating at Plant Delights.