Brighten up your winter garden with the fragrant golden flush of the paperbush shrub .

Paperbush will add much - needed color to thewinter gardenwith its highly fragrant , unique white and yellow flowers . The blue - green leaf turn yellow in autumn and eventually drop to the ground , showcasing the silvery flower buds constitute throughout the summertime . Early - wintertime highlights the ruddy - browned bark and rounded social system of the plant , but the existent display occurs in former winter when the foggy silver flower bud open to a golden yellow . The flowers have a waxy show and last for weeks , attract early - season pollinator to the garden . stretch the flowering time of year in your garden with thiseasy - aid , humiliated - maintenance shrub .

YUYA KIKUCHI / Getty Images

close up of paperbush edgeworthia chrysantha flowers

Credit:YUYA KIKUCHI / Getty Images

Where to Plant Paperbush

Paperbush should be planted where it will receive protection from the midday sun , in a spot withslightly acidic to inert pH soil . prefer a website near a paseo or thefront of your houseto revalue the unbelievable fragrance of the flush when they bloom between January and March . Consider a location near a window , or with a backdrop of evergreen plant to highlight the winter bloom . If plant too far away from the firm , or without a backdrop , the white and yellow peak can become lose in the muffling blanket of a wintertime snow .

How and When to Plant Paperbush

The right time to establish a new paperbush shrub is in spring or autumn . This will allow enough meter for the flora to grow new root before the heat of summer or a winter freeze . Dig a hole 1 - 2 inch shallower than the deepness of the rootball , and as wide as possible to allow roots to maturate into the surround soil . insure that the bottom of the muddle is firm , or the plant life may settle in subsequent seasons .

Backfill with the dirt you remove from the hole . This will take into account the works to quickly become established in the aboriginal soil . Amending the soil in the planting muddle can create a “ bathtub ” effect , where the roots do not grow out into the aboriginal grease and rather circle in the nutritious - productive planting hole . This can choke the flora , quash its constancy in heavy rain and tip , and further limit its drought tolerance due to limited root increase .

The location should receive morning Dominicus , or filtered sunlight throughout the day .   avert direct midday sun . This shrub can originate quite gravid , up to 8 foot marvelous and broad , so choose a location orotund enough to allow the plant to reach its mature sizing without competition from other flora .

epimedium, barrenwort or Bishop’s Hat

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Paperbush Care Tips

Paperbush is a lowly - maintenance shrub that does dear in fond sun and moist , well - drained stain . Protect paperbush from dry winter winding to ensure a prolific flower showing in mid- to tardy winter .

Light

The optimum location isbright filtered sun throughout the day , or lineal sunrise sunshine with trade protection from the more vivid afternoon Sunday . Paperbush grown in cooler climate will generally digest more sunshine than plants grow closer to the equator .   Either way , paperbush needs sunlight to bloom , but may not thrive in full sun conditions . The overall growth on flora in too much shade will be thin , with reduced vigour and a less telling heyday display .

Soil and Water

Paperbush grow best inwell - drained soilswith a slightly acidic to indifferent pH. Average garden soil rich in humous is ideal .

This plant require regular water throughout the growing time of year , but will not grow in perpetually wet grunge . If the leaves begin to flag but the soil is still damp , the plant is likely suffering from too much wet . Allow the water to dissipate before water again . If your plant life is growing in the stem zone of a large tree , it may need extra H2O throughout the time of year due to etymon competition .

Established plants can survive forgetful menses of drought , but paperbush should not be considered drought tolerant . Maintain regular moistureto ensure a healthy plant .

ilex opaca holly shrub

Credit: Doug Hetherington

Temperature and Humidity

This bush tolerates heat and humidness , provided it receives adequate protection from direct sunlight . Plant paperbush where it will receive protective cover from frigid winter winds in regions with wintertime temperatures that on a regular basis dip to 10 ° F or less . Consider planting paperbush where it will receive ponder hotness from surrounding structure or hardscapes in especially cold climates .

Fertilizer

Paperbush does not require additional fertilizer when grown in average garden soil . A yearlyapplication of compostspread around the root zone is enough for a healthy plant .

Pruning

Paperbush shrubsdo not respond well to aggressive pruning . Heavy pruning will weaken the industrial plant ,   so it is crucial to select a planting fix to allow the works to turn over its mature size . trammel your pruning to removing beat , diseased , or damage branches and removing the suckers that may raise directly from the ancestor of the parent plant . Generally , paperbush plants are undifferentiated raiser and do not need formation to maintain a pleasing form .

Growing Paperbush in Pots

Paperbush shrubs are not good prospect for turn in planter . If using a container is your only option , pick out the largest plantation owner possible and pick out a smaller variety such as ‘ aureate Rush . ’ Provide the works with even moisture and keep it out of direct sunlight . Remember , plant life grow above priming coat in containers will not receive the lifelike insulating benefit of the ground in winter .   Be indisputable to place the planter in a protect surface area in cold-blooded climate .

Pests and Problems

Paperbush is usually free of major pests and diseases . The most important affair to consider when growing paperbush is whether or not it is the right plant for the localization .   quash excessive fertilizer , provide even water system , confine root challenger from neighboring tree diagram and shrubs , and avoid direct midday sunshine to guarantee that your plant life remain healthy .

How to Propagate Paperbush

The well-to-do fashion to broadcast your paperbush plant life is to labor up a root sucker and transplant it to a novel location . Paperbush plant will often originate raw shoots emerging from the footing throughout the origin zone . As these shoots ripe they can transition an attractive and rounded shrub into a waste - looking thicket .

In natural spring or former autumn , choose a fool that is growing towards the outside of the plant . Gently expose the roots anduse shrill garden shearsto transfer a incision of rootage ( attach to the mug you want to graft ) that is at least 3 inches long , sooner longer . transfer the mug to a Modern location and water regularly for the balance of the time of year .

Another choice is to take stem cuttings in summer .   The base of the cutting should be firm , while the baksheesh of the cutting should be diffused and actively produce .   Cuttings should be 2 - 4 inches long and made below a leafage node ( the gibbousness on the stem where a leaf will emerge.)Use neat pruning shearsto obviate crushing the theme when taking the clipping , then move out any side shoots . Apply a root hormonebefore come out the slashed end of the cutting into moist potting mix . Use a mist system to provide humidity while the cutting develops young roots , or locate a clear plastic tent over the cutting to uphold a humid environs .   Check the cuttings day by day , ensure that the ground does not dry out , and mist the cutting with water until new roots develop .

oakleaf hydrangea blooms

Credit: Marty Baldwin

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 ° degree Fahrenheit .

‘Nanjing Gold’ Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha‘Nanjing Gold ’ paperbush grows to 6 infantry tall and wide and sport lemon - chickenhearted flowers that appear more vivacious than the gold - yellowness of many survival of the fittest .

‘Winter Gold’ Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha‘Winter Gold ’ is a highly fragrant selection of paperbush that lark gilt - yellow flowers and grows up to 6 feet magniloquent and 8 feet wide .

‘Gold Rush’ Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha‘Gold Rush ’ is little than many selections , reaching 5 feet tall and wide . It is a in effect pick for homeowners with limited place .

‘Red Dragon’ (syn. ‘Akebono’) Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha‘Red Dragon ’ flowers are dark - orange to an orangish - red , reportedly varying with the temperature . This hard - to - source selection grows to 6 feet improbable and wide .

Paperbush Companion Plants

Barrenwort

Barrenworts(Epimediumspp . ) are an excellent choice for a semi - woody groundcover in area with little lineal sunlight . The spring blooms will extend the flowering season around your paperbush with tiny flowers that invite faithful review .

Holly

evergreen plant character of holly(Ilexspp . ) supply a darker background that helps spotlight the bright paperbush flower in winter . This is specially helpful in field that get regular snow , which can obscure the paperbush flowers in a blanket of white and stimulate them to fleet into the backdrop in the double-dyed winter landscape .

Oakleaf Hydrangea

The rough-cut texture and atypical substance abuse ofoakleaf hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia ) play up the uniformness of the dingy - green leave of paperbush .   Both plant ply excellent wintertime pursuit thanks to oakleaf hydrangea ’s bark and paperbush ’s flowers .

Frequently Asked Questions

In the past tense , scientist speciate betweenE. chrysanthaandE. papyrifera . Currently , E. papyriferais no longer considered a freestanding species and is now an accept equivalent word ofE. chrysantha . However , some argue thatE. chrysanthais a large , more rich plant life with better cold permissiveness and more fragrant flowers and suggest thatE. papyriferais all - around smaller and more delicate in appearance , with tenuous folio and a less intense fragrance .