Edgeworthia crysantha

Edgeworthia is a shrub native to China and the Himalayas and is a member of the daphne family (Thymelaeaceae). The Irish botanist Michael Pakenham Edgeworth and his half sister Maria Edgeworth were both honored with the naming of this plant. Chrysantha is Greek for “golden flower.” The common name paperbush comes from its use to produce quality paper. In Japan, the paper is used to make banknotes.

Edgeworthia thrives in partial shade and appreciates well-enriched, moist soil. Space these plants about 7 feet apart in partial shade and rich, moist soil. Maintenance on this plant is minimal; prune in spring or winter to remove diseases or damaged branches. When pruning, keep in mind that blossoms will appear on old growth.

In spring, it sports lovely bluish foliage with silvery undertones that are both eye-catching and soothing. The foliage turns a nice yellow in the fall. This well-branched, well-formed shrub begins forming its silvery buds in late summer and into fall, adding interest to your fall garden. It begins to bloom in December, when it’s nothing but a bare silhouette in the garden, and continues through the winter. The individual florets are tiny, but a few dozen make up a 1½ to 2-inch cluster of beautiful yellow flowers. They have a gardenia-like fragrance. This plant is noteworthy for its unique three-pronged branching.

Edgeworthia makes a nice stand-alone specimen or back-of-the-border choice. You don’t have to worry about missing the scent of the blooms, but you may want to plant it within reach of passersby because the foliage invites handling. Be sure to snip a few blooms to keep the house fragrant through the winter. This is the ideal choice for a winter garden, sensory garden, or children’s garden. It can also be used in a pollinator garden (it has flowers when few other plants do) or a cottage garden.