Tetrapanax papyrifer
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aralia mairei
- Aralia papyrifera
- Didymopanax papyriferus
- Echinopanax papyriferus
- Fatsia papyrifera
- Panax papyrifer
- Description
-
Rice Paper Plant is a showy, sub-tropical, evergreen large shrub or small tree native to Taiwan that is used as an ornamental shrub in Asia. It is frost sensitive above USDA plant zone 8b, but will re-emerge in spring. In warmer zones, it will remain evergreen year-round.
It makes a lush exotic background for borders and screening. The smaller cultivar 'Rex' works well in containers. Many small flowers on a long panicle bloom in fall are followed by small dark fruits. Accepts a wide range of soil conditions, but does spread by underground rhizomes which will need to be cut and removed to limit this plant's spread.
Problems: Spreads by suckers, leaves can be damaged by a strong wind, mealy-bugs only known insect problem
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Empress'
Grows more tree-like with fewer suckers - 'Rex'
Grows 6-10 feet tall and wide - 'Steroidal Giant'
Can grow to 15 feet high and 15 feet wide in warmer zones
- 'Empress'
- 'Empress', 'Rex', 'Steroidal Giant'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Empress'
Grows more tree-like with fewer suckers - 'Rex'
Grows 6-10 feet tall and wide - 'Steroidal Giant'
Can grow to 15 feet high and 15 feet wide in warmer zones
- 'Empress'
- 'Empress', 'Rex', 'Steroidal Giant'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tetrapanax
- Species:
- papyrifer
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Historically used to make rice paper veneer sheets, artificial paper flowers, and in traditional Chinese pharmacology for the medicine "tong cao".
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. China, Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollen plant for bees
- Edibility:
- Stems are used to make rice paper. Rice paper can be used to wrap foods and can be eaten with the food.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round drupe
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Many creamy yellow-white flowers are borne on large, loose panicles up to 3 feet long
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 10-15 inches wide gray-green showy lobed leaves with hairs on the undersides and serrated margins. Leaves have 5-14 lobes. The deeply-lobed leaves cluster at the top of the trunk on long petioles.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Continuous homogeneous
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
