Gardening Tip - Edgeworthia Chrysantha

Edgeworthia Chrysantha

Although it is a member of the Thymelaeaceae, the family that includes the daphnes, it would be hard to imagine a plant less like a daphne at first glance. However, if you are familiar with the deciduous Daphne genkwa, there is some hint of resemblance there.

The genus comprises three very similar species from China and Japan. It is named after Michael Pakenham Edgeworth (1812-81), a part-time botanist, plant collector and employee of the East India Company.

The plant grown in our gardens and sold in garden centres is commonly labelled E. papyrifera, which is actually a different species. There is some confusion over this, even among botanists. Apparently E. papyrifera has white flowers, not the yellow of E. chrysantha, though some botanists regard them variations of one species.

Edgeworthia chrysantha is a heavily-wooded deciduous shrub. It grows to around 1.2-1.8 m high by 1.5 m wide. Its 12.5-17.5 cm long, pointed oval leaves are soft green with prominent midribs and felted when young.

The foliage is attractive, especially when young, but this is a plant grown for its flowers. They are bright yellow aging to creamy white, tubular and about 1 cm long. Individually they are nothing much, but they are densely packed in 8 cm diameter globose heads. The are very fragrant and open until late winter from buds that have been obvious from late autumn.

The flowers are followed by dry, purplish-green berries known technically as drupes.

This is an often underrated shrub and I'd be the first to admit that it is not always instantly appealing. At first, its rather sparse growth and very heavy branches can seem grotesque. But with time these things tend to be overlooked in favour of the delicate colouring and fragrance of the flowers, and the beauty of the new foliage.

A moist, well-drained, humus-enriched soil with partial shade is best - the sort of conditions you would give your rhododendrons and camellias, or for that matter your daphnes. It is hardy to around -15°C and thrives in a cool temperate climate. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings, aerial layers or seed.

Try Edgeworthia, it's not difficult to grow and although bare for much of the year it has its moment of glory when flowering, and definitely has that 'weird' appeal that makes it one for the collector.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.

Car Insurance Rates | Dental Insurance | Health Insurance | Home Owner Insurance | Life Insurance Quote

| 1 |

Introducting Koi-cam!
This is a project I've had on the back burner for many monthsnow, but now it's finally ready!We rigged up a wireless camera and aimed it at the KOI pond here,directly where my KOI get their daily feedings. To check it outright now, visit www.koi-cam.com.Right now, it's just a snapshot that can be updated by hittingy...(related: Gardening Tip)

Early Spring Garden Guide: What To Do In The Yard And Garden Now
Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this handy spring garden guide to get started. Believe it or not, the key is avoid getting too impatient and doing certain jobs to...(related: Gardening Tip)

Delavays Blueberry (vaccinium Delavayi)

Whether we know it or not, most of us are familiar with the genus Vaccinium as it has among its members several current or potential commercial crops, such as blueberry, cranberry, bilberry and huckleberry. Vaccinium delavayi, however, is strictly ornamental and very unlikely to be our next export success.

The name vaccinium is an ancient one taken directly from the Latin vernacular: it was used to refer to Vaccinium myrtillus, the delightfully named whortleberry. Vaccinium delava...(related: Gardening Tip)

Choosing Pond Plants
A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond plantsfight algae, give fish a hiding place against predators, andbeautify our own little slice of paradise to plunk down in at theend of a tiring day.Don't smother your pond with plants, however. Start with half thesurface area, ...(related: Gardening Tip)

Easy Pond And Water Garden Construction
Today's successful water garden usually is designed as an ecosystem that uses a balance between fish, plants and bacteria keeping the water clear. The type of pond I'm talking about is self-contained (not fed by a spring or stream) and between 100-900 sq ft; a backyard water garden that is easy to maintain and adds value to your lifestyle and property. 20 years ago the typical do-it-yourself water garden was a muck-filled cesspool waiting to happen, while...(related: Gardening Tip)

Landscaping Of Hindu Religious Places
Traditionally Hindu tepmples were located either on hills or forests or river banks.In ancient times, the temples were constructed in such locations faraway from human habitations for providing a calm, peaceful and pleasant environment and also for ensuring a close bond between man and nature.Hindu temples are generally associated with trees such as Ficus benghalensis, Ficus Religiosa, Aegle marmelos,Azardirachta indica, Temple tree, Bauhinia spp, etc, Herbs such as Vinca rosea, Nerium spp etc.The gigantic trees like ficus spp and some other trees are closely associated with temples since time immemorial.The mixed fragrance, the flowers and the leaf litter on the ground gives a pleasent experience to a pilgrim o...(related: Gardening Tip)

Mustard: The Greatest Among The Herbs
Mustard plants have been used for thousands of years for their pungent flavour in condiments, spicy greens for side dishes and salads, and in traditional folk medicine and Chinese herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. The name mustard comes from the Latin mustum ardens, or "burning must." It was...(related: Gardening Tip)

The Difference Between Large And Small Ponds
If you think that a large pond is simply a small pond that "grewup", you're in for some pond maintenance problems. Let's startoff my defining the terms that we'll be using here. A large pondis anything over 1,000 gallons (5,000 liters). A pond that holdsover 4,000 gallons (20,000 liters) is a very large pond.Large ponds require a whole different level of financial and timecommittment than small ponds do. You'll need larger and moreefficient pumps and filters as well as the additional plumbingthat those devices require. You'll probably also spend a lot morefor plants and fish as well as higher main...(related: Gardening Tip)

How To Choose Water Garden Plants
So. The water garden bug has bitten. You've dug and leveled andsweated and said words you hope that no one else has heard. Nowit's time for the fun part ? picking out your water gardenplants!Plant varieties within these four categories are what you need toeyeball: deep-water, marginals, oxygenators, and floaters. (Ifyou think these words are big and weird, just thank your starswe're not talking medicine.)After you've dili...(related: Gardening Tip)

Fleur De Lotus: Purity In A Sullied World
Rising from a muddy pond, a lotus flower blossoms. Such epitome of purity in a turbid environment has sparked off much inspiration in ancient oriental literature and Buddhist teachings, shaping a repertoire of odes to the graceful demeanour and refreshing fragrance of the lotus.HistoryThe lotus has played a vital role in the creation of the world, according to Egyptian mythology. Before the universe came into being, there was an infinite ocean ...(related: Gardening Tip)

The Protea Family (proteaceae)

The protea family (Proteaceae) includes a wide range of ground covers, trees and shrubs that often make superb garden plants. While some of the species are frost-tender, they are in all other respects remarkably resilient plants that often thrive in situations where others would rapidly succumb. Poor soils and hot dry positions that scarcely seem capable of supporting life are often ideal for Proteaceae. If any plants could be said to thrive on neglect the proteas can.

Proteas (the term is often used collectively as well as for the genus itself) are a variable group. Indeed, the family was named after Proteus, a Greek god capable of changing his shape at will. It includes some 60 genera and 1400 species of Southern Hemisphere plants, the bulk of which are native ...(related: Gardening Tip)

Hand Feeding Your Koi
One of the most rewarding and entertaining things about having aKoi pond is when your fish finally start eating out of your hand.There is no better way to learn each fishes' personality andtemprament than to have them nuzzle your fingers when they arehungry.The key to training your Koi to eat from your hand is patienceand conditioning. Like any wild animal Koi have a naturaldistrust for anything that they think can hurth them, and you'replenty big enough to do that as far as they are concerned.If your goal is hand feeding then you...(related: Gardening Tip)

Funniest Pond Stories-part 1, May 2004
Get ready for some gut-wrenching, laugh out loud hilarious pondstories from all over the world...(Continued from May Issue of PondStuff!)We had some hilarious, truly gut wrenching, laugh out-loudstories sent in by some of you. Here we're going to highlightsome of the funniest stories for you to read.We had entries from all over the place (Inluding one all the wayfrom THAILAND!) The competition was fierce, and to be honest - Ihad a really hard time deciding on one 'funniest' story, buthere's a brief rundown of our entries: cats, dogs, and bunnies(?) all taking the Nestea plunge right into the water, a hungryKOI nibbling in dangerous territory, a missing flip flop, anelectrifying experience for grandma, fun for the whole family,fish frape, and flying fish to boot!First, let's start w...(related: Gardening Tip)