Edgeworthia chrysantha Winter Liebe - Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Winter Liebe' is an improvement of the species that stands out for its larger winter flowers, a very bright, vivid yellow, with a delicious lemony scent. It forms a deciduous bush, well-branched and forming a dome not exceeding 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in all directions, with a regular, spread-out framework, dressed in beautiful smooth, slightly shiny, light brown to copper brown bark. The ends of its bare branches bear long tubular flowers in late winter, silky, cream white on the reverse with a bright yellow heart. Slow-growing and moderately hardy, it thrives in temperate climates with bright but not scorching exposures and in soils without limestone, light, humus-rich, moist and above all well-drained. Plant it in isolation in a sheltered corner, close to the house or in a bed in association with liriopes, hellebores, heathers, and narcissus at its feet.

Edgeworthia chrysantha (synonym E. tomentosa) is a close relative of Daphnes, belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family. It is the only species known for its ornamental qualities and its use in the production of luxury paper. This shrub is native to central China, where it is found in forests, on riverbanks, or on brushy slopes, at an altitude between 300 and 1600 m (984 ft 4 in and 5249 ft 4 in). This plant has naturalized in Japan and on the southern coast of Korea due to intensive cultivation. The plant's lifespan is about 30 to 60 years.

The 'Winter Liebe' cultivar is a recent creation, still not widely available commercially. This slow-growing bush with an elegant, spreading habit reaches about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in all directions. Its very short trunk disappears as peripheral branches emerge. The thick, flexible, reddish-brown branches branch out very regularly and in a characteristic manner into three secondary branches. Flowering takes place from February to April, for about a month, at the ends of bare branches. The flower buds, protected by pretty silvery bracts, are carried by a curved peduncle that straightens up when it the buds unfurl into round, pale green umbels that bloom from the centre to the periphery. The 30 to 50 small flowers measure over 5 mm (0.2 in). Each one is composed of a silky white tube that widens into 4 lobes of a very vibrant yellow so that the inflorescence appears bicolour and brings a lot of light to the winter scenes. These nectar-rich, lemon-scented flowers emit a heady scent in calm weather, attracting bumblebees or early bees. The flowering is followed by the formation of non-edible fruits with a stone.

The exotic, deciduous foliage, fuller and larger than the species, appears after flowering, towards the ends of the branches. It consists of large alternate, lanceolate leaves, reaching up to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, strongly veined and shiny, green-blue on the upper side, lighter and silky on the reverse. In hot weather, the leaves tend to wilt and fall prematurely.

Edgeworthia 'Winter Liebe' is a collector's shrub, to be planted near a passage or entrance to enjoy its fragrance. It is not more widely planted in our gardens due to its relatively low hardiness, around -12°C in a sheltered position, the sensitivity of its flowering to dry and icy winds, and its aversion to heat. Like rhododendrons, it does not tolerate the presence of limestone and requires soil that remains moist but well-drained. Therefore, it will naturally find a place alongside other acid-loving shrubs such as Camellias, Pieris, Kalmia, and tree heathers.

Also known as Mistumata or paper tree, Edgeworthia chrysantha is used in Japan to make high-quality paper from its branches: washi. The resulting pulp gives the paper a unique texture and makes it resistant to the effects of time, humidity, and insects.