If you are looking to add a unique touch to your garden, consider growing an Edgeworthia Chrysantha (Paperbush).
These plants usually grow to be 6 feet tall and wide, but they can reach 8 feet when given the right conditions.
These shrubs don’t require much maintenance – a light pruning will do.
In fact, most Edgeworthia plants don’t require any pruning at all, though they can tolerate light shade.
Does Edgeworthia need full sun?
Edgeworthia Chrysantha requires full sun to grow and blossom. The plant should be planted in well-drained humus-rich soil and doesn’t require strong winds. It’s easy to care for, and can thrive in partial shade. Watering the plant during summer is essential.
Where Was Edgeworthia Grown?
Edgeworthia is native to the Himalayas, China, and Japan. It doesn’t require full sun, but it does prefer indirect light, filtered or not.
A south-facing wall is best for growing this shrub, which likes moist, rich soil.
Watering schedules vary, but they don’t require much water in the first few years. However, older plants do not need as much water as young ones (more on this later).
Grow Edgeworthia in Shade (in the first 2 years)
If you are unsure about whether to plant your Edgeworthia in full sun, consider growing it under shade for the first two years.
It will be more vigorous and more spread out.
But, keep in mind that this shrub will need at least partial shade. It also prefers moist soil rich in humus. In the Pacific Northwest, it does well in full sunlight. Its leaves will eventually fade and fall.
Does Edgeworthia Chrysantha Need Full Sunlight?
If you want to grow your Edgeworthia in the full sun, you must make sure it gets plenty of sunshine. It grows best in moist soil and is hardy in zones 7 and above.
Its foliage is leathery, and it will last all winter. The leaves are also bright and shiny, and you can grow them as an individual specimens. It is available commercially and has several yellow varieties.
It’s non-fragrant and does not need much light.
Identification of Edgeworthia Chrysantha Shrub
In late winter and early spring, the Edgeworthia chrysantha grows to about 5 feet tall.
Its leaves are blue and slender, and its bark is furry.
Its flowers grow on bare wood and are covered with tiny pinkish-purple blossoms.
In addition, the plant’s flower buds are fragrant, and the flowers look similar to those of a gardenia.
Once you’ve planted your Edgeworthia chrysantha in your landscape, it will begin to bloom. The flowers are already in the bud stage and will continue to grow until they open.
These flower buds are the first signs of the plants’ health. They will eventually turn into blossoms. The yellow flowers are small and have a strong fragrance. They grow well in USDA zones 7 to 10.
This species is a hardy perennial in zones 7 – 10. It produces large, yellow-green leaves that look like they are painted.
It is a good choice for a garden with little or no sunlight. It will grow to four to 6 feet tall and be a beautiful specimen in your garden. In the maritime Pacific Northwest, the Edgeworthia will thrive in full sun. If you plant it in full sun, it will grow slowly and require less water.
If you are planting a new Edgeworthia, it is important to know the proper conditions for it. It needs to receive filtered sunlight for its best growth, and it needs moist soil for it to thrive.
When it is planted, the plant will be in a position to tolerate the full range of temperature and light. If it is in a sunny location, it will grow well in any zone.
How to Care For Edgeworthia
Now, let’s dive into some of the most effective ways to care for Edgeworthia:
1). Keep it Well-watered
The best way to care for your Edgeworthia plant is to keep it well-watered and in full sun. It can also tolerate part-shade.
If you’re not sure how much water you should give your plant, a 5 gallon of water for a week is ideal. Water the Edgeworthia plant regularly, but do not over-water it. It needs deep water and plenty of moisture. Count the number of times you water it every day.
Effective watering can help you achieve a healthy plant that will be pruned so that you can reap the benefits.
When the plant is healthy enough, then it can also be propagated from a cutting, but you may need to use caution — so you don’t kill the plant.
Provide a Semi-Humid Shade (if you can)
All things being equal, Edgeworthia is a shrub that prefers a semi-humid shade and is good for a woodland garden. Its flowers are fragrant, and its leaves are green and dark green in color. It can be interplanted with Camellias or Witch hazel trees for added impact.
To take care of your Edgeworthia plant, use ground hardwood mulch or ground cypress mulch.
Use Moist, Well-Drained Soil
The Edgeworthia is a fast-growing and deer-resistant plant. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and sunlight, but does need some moisture during its growing season. For best results, it should be watered regularly during its first few weeks.
Use Organic Fertilizers Every Other Week
Fertilize Edgeworthia once every 2 to 3 weeks. Yearly fertilization will ensure that it thrives. You can also grow the plant in a cool place and prevent it from drying out.
Prune Edgeworthia When it Reaches Critical Mass
It requires no pruning in its formative stages. However, you should remove the flower buds and trim them once they reach critical mass.
Once you’ve figured out the best time to prune the Edgeworthia plant, it should bloom within a few weeks. Once the leaves appear, cut them back to keep the stems from dying.
This will ensure that the flowers are visible throughout the entire spring. But if you’ve been planting the Edgeworthia standard wrong, you might want to replant it with a cutting.
Watering Edgeworthia in Winter
In winter, the Edgeworthia chrysantha plant should be kept well-watered. In hot weather, it should be watered frequently. In winter, it should be given only light watering. It may not need fertilizer, but it should be fed with compost every year.
During the winter, it can survive the coldest temperatures, so it’s best to place it in a sunny spot where it will receive the necessary nutrients.
Light Requirements for Edgeworthia
The Edgeworthia plant should be exposed to light and water. It should be positioned in the shade to avoid direct sunlight.
In mid-winter, the plant can be pruned mildly. Then, the leaves will fall off. If you’re growing it in the shade, it will be more difficult to prune.
The Edgeworthia is one of the easiest plants to propagate, and it can be grown from a cutting. But this is only possible when it’s being exposed to adequate lighting and watering.
Conclusion
Overall, Edgeworthia Chrysantha (Paperbush) is a hardy perennial that’s quite easy to grow.
It doesn’t require much maintenance and can thrive in full sun or mid-shade, provided it’s watered accordingly, and the flower buds pruned lightly when necessary.