Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Tetrapanax papyrifer
Also known as
Rice Paper Plant, Toong Shue, Rice paper tree
Photo by CandideUK (All rights reserved)
Full Sun
Easy care
Moderate watering
Frost Hardy
H4
RHS hardiness
-10°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
9m | Max | 5m |
2.5m | Min | 1.5m |
5 years to reach maturity
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Chinese Rice-Paper Plant Overview
Tetrapanax papyrifer is a stunning species in the Araliaceae family. This evergreen shrub or tree species is known commonly by the name Chinese Rice Paper Plant. It grows rapidly, producing downy branches and large, showy, deeply lobed leaves. In autumn tall sprays of creamy-coloured, woolly flowers appear, followed by black fruits. It is endemic to parts of China and Taiwan and spreads by suckering. Only evergreen in the UK if kept frost free otherwise the plant will be deciduous. In cold winters (-10 degrees Celsius) it will die back completely, regrowing from ground level in spring. Rarely gets above 3m tall in the UK climate.
Common problems with Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Generally trouble tree
How to harvest Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Stems are cut to extract the pith which is then processed into a fine Rice paper
How to propagate Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Seed
Sow seeds in autumn
Suckers
Remove suckers in spring or summer
Cuttings
You can propagate from seeds or cuttings in early spring.
Special features of Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Attractive leaves
Attractive flowers
Other uses of Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Plant in wall side borders to provide architectural interest. It also suits being grown in urban courtyard gardens and in coastal gravel gardens to provide a subtropical look.
