The Edgeworthia papyifera Flower

The strange name of this genus might suggest some rare and almost unknown plant, but one species is widely cultivated in European gardens and in many parts of the United States, although few people are familiar with its correct name. It is so common in certain regions that it is frequently the only important shrub in even the most humble garden. The reasons for this widespread popularity of what might have so easily been a rare plant are its ease of cultivation, the ease with which it can be propagated its early-flowering habit, even before forsythias, and its deliciously fragrant flowers.

Edgeworthia papyrifera Sieb. & Zucc.

This is native to China and Japan and was introduced into Europe. It is one of the earliest-blooming shrubs in spring; in mild localities it blooms at the first sign of winter's end. At one time in China and Japan it was widely cultivated for use in making fine paper, such as that used for paper currency. The plant's branches are so pliable that they appear to be made of rubber. It is impossible to break them by bending and they are flexible enough to be tied into knots. This attractive deciduous shrub has a close, compact habit with a great many stems rising directly from its base. The leaves are mostly terminal, alternate, narrowly oval, entire, up to long, and dark opaque green. The inflorescences appear before the leaves and are terminal clusters up to, wide composed of small individual tubular flowers; intense yellow internally, creamy yellow externally, with a relatively wide mouth. The flowers are covered externally with fine silky white hairs and they have a strong, delicious scent. 

The inflorescence much resembles that of daphne, to which edgeworthias are closely related. Mature, well-developed specimens often have a diameter in excess of their height and are seen to best *effect when cultivated as isolated individual specimens so that their naturally rounded, very pleasing form can be appreciated. The plant can also be used to form an informal hedge, but it should not be pruned or otherwise restricted. Cultivation is very easy; the plants will thrive in any ordinary garden soil, either acid or alkaline as long as it is well-drained. They like full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade. Propagation can be effected by means of the basal growths that can easily be detached with a fragment of root in spring or autumn. It can also be done with cuttings of half-ripened wood in July, inserted in sand in a closed frame, or by means of soft cuttings made from young growths in spring and rooted in a warm greenhouse.

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