Edgeworthia gardneri
Nepalese Paper Bush
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Edgeworthia genus in the family Thymelaeaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
- Genus
- Edgeworthia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A high-class paper is made from the bark[8][9][7]. The bark fibres are used. This species is said to be the best of the various species that are used to make hand made paper in the Himalayas[2]. The stems are extremely supple and can be tied in knots[1].
- Product or use
- Paper
- Product or use
- String
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - S. China to the E. Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Forests and shrubberies to 3000 metres[9].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Place the pot in a plastic bag to keep it moist[3]. The seed might germinate in the spring, though it could take another 12 months. Stored seed usually requires 8 - 12 weeks warm stratification at 20°c followed by 12 - 14 weeks at 3°c[3]. Germination can still take 12 months or more at 15°c[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and grow on in a greenhouse for at least a year before planting out in late spring or early summer[3]. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings in spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any soil in sun or part shade, growing well in light woodland. Prefers a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season. Very closely related to and scarcely distinct from E. chrysantha and E. papyrifera[5]. This species is more tender than E. chrysantha[1]. It is reliably hardy to about -5°c, but it can tolerate temperatures down to -15°c if growing in a well-drained soil in a sheltered position[5]. The flowers are damaged by frost so the plant is best grown on a south or west-facing wall[4]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be put into their permanent positions as soon as possible[4]. This species is cultivated in the Himalayas for the paper that can be made from the bark[8]. The stems are harvested every second year for this purpose[10]. The flowers diffuse a pronounced clove-like perfume and will scent the air to some distance on a calm day[6].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202