Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Di-Sue-Shan'

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese rice-paper plant 'Di-Sue-Shan'

RHS

Shrubs Trees

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A large, fast-growing semi-evergreen shrub or small tree to around 2m in height (up to 5m in the wild), with very large, palmately lobed green leaves. The leaves have an orangey woolly coating and can reach widths of over 1m. Pale, creamy pompoms of flowers are produced in large sprays in autumn through to winter. This plant was shortlisted for the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year 2025

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years

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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from cold winds and provide a deep mulch over winter in cold areas. 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
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Flower borders and beds
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