Plant profile: how to grow Edgeworthia 

In Japan, the plant is called Mitsumata, which means 'three branches' and refers to the fact that each shoot always ends with three branches. The flower shoots are often used in quite bizarre ways in Ikebana as the branches are so flexible that they can easily be tied into knots. A friend from Japan once told me that the species usually grows in very moist areas such as riverbanks, while the orange form is found on drier soils on exposed slopes.

I have had to move a number of neighboring plants as several Edgeworthia have spread more than 20 feet. In Virginia US, flower buds are damaged below 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and branches are damaged below 0. Branching on older plants extends to the ground, and I've been able to share a number that have rooted. It remains uncommon, but a highly anticipated late winter bloomer.

Felt the exact same way. What the heck is a hellebore? But then I watched your video epic on hellebores and I'm hooked.

I bought the botany names book Stephen recommended and I am enjoying it very much! Please keep recommending horticultural books!

It’s beautiful. Eye’ll look for it at the nurseries with the more unusual plants.

Thanks, Stephen & Matthew. A favourite plant, mine has lost most of its flower buds to uk 🇬🇧 wet winters over recent years. Any ideas would be gratefully received 🙂

What a perfectly timed video! I am expecting a delivery of three of these plants this afternoon in California, USA growing zone 9b. I grew one I got from an online nursery in a 3 gallon container last year in a 2ft wide 3 ft tall conical pot, but I think it got waterlogged and died from root rot. This time I am going to try one in a container and maybe two in different spots in the ground to see what works. I have never seen one of these plants for sale in person here in California, but the smell is absolutely one of my favorites of all time! Appreciate all of the growing info!

I'm loving yellow flowers at the moment. I have bought several different plants in recent weeks and they are all yellow flowering, even three yellow flowering Magnolia, one i can expect 17cm blooms....wowza

I live in vancouver canada and need to replace a hybiscus. I am thinking of putting in a rose of Sharon. I believe they are of the same family. But what are the differences? This is a full sun spot thought does get some wind. Thanks meme

Hello from Tennessee in America!

Here in the southern US some growers say Edgeworthia blooms smell like Lemon Pledge furniture polish. I dislike botanical analogies like that, but it may be accurate, in a way.

Thanks! I would call it's fragrance spicy, almost cloves-like :) but it is very subjective of course. A lovely and easy plant to grow here in Oregon. Mine keeps shooting suckers, I remove them and pot them up to gift to friends. Capitalism failing :)

Hi Stephen and Matthew, Love your videos! My query is about a Cussonia that grew with great vigour after I replanted it from a pot to a garden bed. Unfortunately the leaves are brown around the edge and a few lower leaves are dropping 😮 I’m in Mont Albert and we have had a couple of decent frosts. I’ve given it sea weed solution. Any suggestions please ? Many thanks, Liz

I bought an expensive Edgeworthia last winter. It died. 😢

Hi Stephen. I was thinking more about these bidwilliis that I told you are in my yard. When they get big they will eventually be above the sidewalk and possibly hover over my neighbors yard a bit. Do you think that this could pose a problem or even possibly a lawsuit at one point? I don't think like this but I have noticed so much hype about these trees being dangerous or do you think it's not worth worrying about. I might be able to transplant them to another place but don't want to risk shocking or possibly killing them since they are so happy in my yard. I can think of 6 of them that I can think of that were cut down in my neighborhood in the past few years because the people were so worried about the cones hitting people. Is it really that bad or just a lot of hype on the internet? Thanks Stephen.