Tetrapanax papyrifer
Chinese rice-paper plant
Tetrapanax papyrifer is a superb large, suckering, semi-evergreen Taiwanese shrub producing immense and dramatically lobed leaves atop fast-growing stems. This plant is a spectacular architectural star that creates the tropical wow factor in the temperate garden.
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Plant Biography
Few plants have made such an impact upon their arrival into horticulture as the Tetrapanax. It has quickly usurped all others as the ‘must have’ plant for an unbeatable tropical look yet is a hardy and undemanding plant – given enough space!
It will be cut back by the winter frost, but each year it comes back fighting in spring in all but the very coldest of UK areas.
Expert Tip
Please Note:
The “Rex” group of Tetrapanax payrifer includes a series of seed grown specimens that have been identified in several plants in the UK. As the name is not that of an established cultivar, we cannot label our plants as “Rex”. The “Rex” form may be a genetic feat or a environment induced form, however this is still up for debate.
While closely related, the plants in this batch are NOT part of the “Rex” group. Some of the plants in this batch may be identifiable later in life as part of the “Rex” group, however identification of between plants is impossible at this stage.Â
This plant may suffer minor damage to the leaves when shipped via courier. Sometimes the leaves are even cut before shipping to avoid this as new ones will emerge quickly after arrival.
Care & Size Guidance
Suckers may appear some distance from the mother plant. Remove these while small to maintain a compact shape or leave in place to grow your own Tetrapanax jungle!
The stems are covered with a coarse powder which may cause an allergic reaction in some people when handled.
Arrived date and time stated. Well packaged but plant smaller then I expected, but very healthy looking and I’m sure will thrive and grow large.
Rosalyn Loasby (verified owner) –
Ordered a much desired tetrapanax papyrifer. Delivery was prompt but the box was crushed; the delivery driver made a ‘quick getaway’ and worst, leafing stems of the plant were snapped. Very disappointing. Rather than blitz the Palm Centre, I advised them what had happened, made no demands but provided photos. They replied very apologetically but rather than ask if there was some way to assuage my disappointment, they simply advised they were sending me another tetrapanax papyrifer. It arrived today. The driver waited, handed over the uncrushed box the right way up and left. The new box revealed a plant wrapped in some kind of plastic meshed, surrounded by cardboard and protected at the side with bubble wrap. Great so far but then closer examination showed the plant was so squeezed into the mesh wrap that two leafing stems were snapped, one long enough for the wounds to have turned brown. The compost in the pot was so disturbed that the plant roots were badly exposed. I now have two tetrapanax plants to ‘nurse’.
Summary: Prompt dispatch and delivery; poor packaging; customer service doing their best.
I won’t complain mainly because I don’t want three tetrapanax plants to nurse… I only ever wanted one.
Wendy (verified owner) –