Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' - Rice Paper Plant, Chinese Rice Paper Plant

Tetrapanax Rex is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a fast rate.

It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in August, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

We grow ours on The Wildlands in The shade of a cork tree and whilst it's mainly grown as an architectural plant for its huge leaves it does have a few other uses.

Edible Uses

None of note

Medicinal Uses

The pith is deobstruent, diuretic, febrifuge, galactagogue, sedative and vermifuge. It is used in Korea in the treatment of oedema

For more information you can visit the PFAF (plants for a future) website here.

1 Plant in 3L pot