Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Tetrapanax spp.
Also known as
Rice paper tree, Chinese rice paper plant, Tung-tsau
Tetrapanax papyrifer - Lyman Plant House, Smith College - DSC04380 by Daderot (CC0)
Full Sun
Moderate care
Light 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 is a monotypic genus containing just 1 evergreen shrub or tree species known commonly by the name Chinese Rice-Paper Plant. It is endemic to parts of China and Taiwan and spreads by suckering. Cultivated for its large, showy, deeply lobed leaves, tall woolly sprays of flowers followed by black fruits. In mild areas it will remain evergreen but when grown in colder climates, may be deciduous and lose its foliage. In cold winters (below -10C) aerial parts of the plant will suffer but will regrow 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, suckers or cuttings in early spring.
Special features of Chinese Rice-Paper Plant
Attractive leaves
Attracts bees
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.