Edgeworth's Garden

Mitsumata paperbush

A bushy deciduous shrub with very flexible shoots bearing rounded inflorescences 5cm across, composed of numerous small, lightly fragrant yellow flowers opening from hairy buds in late winter and early spring, before the narrowly oval leaves appear.
Other common names Edgeworthia tomentosa, Edgeworthia papyrifera

Commonly called the paper bush because it was used in china to make high quality paper for artwork and for printing banknotes in Japan. The branches have very flexible fibres which are ideal for paper making. The branches have a very distinctive triple branching system which gives them a decorative structure. 

The shrub is named after the Irish botanist Michael Packenham Edgeworth who was a brother of Maria Edgeworth. The second part of its name, chrysantha refers to the soft yellow flowers. 

The flowers are the most beautiful part of the plant, they have a sweet spicy scent which carries a good distance. 

In china the bark and roots are used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatories and analgesics. The flower buds are used to treat eye diseases.

Edgeworthia can be propagated by division in winter or by taking cuttings in spring. They like to grow in rich soil in light to moderate shade/