Tetrapanax papyrifer

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese rice-paper plant

Other common names

Chinese rice-paper tree, rice-paper plant, rice-paper tree, tung-tsau

Synonyms

Aralia papyrifera
Fatsia papyrifera

Shrubs Trees

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A large, fast-growing shrub or small tree to about 5m high, producing a thicket of upright stems topped by large, palmately lobed green leaves. New shoots and leaves have a coating of fine coppery hairs. Creamy pompoms of flowers are produced in large sprays in autumn, followed by black fruit.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright, Bushy
Genus: Tetrapanax are suckering, evergreen shrubs or small trees, with large, palmately-lobed leaves. The flowers are produced in large, woolly sprays, attractive to bees, followed by black fruit
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Taiwan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in milder areas, in well-drained soil in full sun, and protect from cold winds. In colder areas grow against a warm wall, in a cool greenhouse, or in a large container that can be moved indoors over winter. If kept frost-free it will be evergreen; with mild frosts the plant is deciduous, and in colder areas it may die back to ground level then reshoot from the roots.

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn, or by division, removing suckers in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged leaves as necessary. Remove suckers if you want to prevent the spread of established clumps

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free