Very nice fragrance. Blooms before it leafs out. Tropical appearance when in leaf. In my region, does best where protected from mild winter frosts.

I prefer the coloring of the orange form. Otherwise the shrub is a bit odd looking and not something I have ever felt the need to acquire - showier, more abundant and up facing flower heads, smaller, more abundant leaves would be definite enhancements.

Perhaps one of the bigger ones I have seen in this area was across the drive from the house at Lakewold some years ago. But there was something that seemed threatening to it going on during that visit, as I remember it probably a heavy mite infestation.

Lakewold Gardens

http://www.lakewoldgardens.org/index.html

IME, not an easy plant to get established..........needs just the right siting and a good soil condition. But once in place and established, no more difficult to grow than any other shrub. Flower buds are easily damaged by late frosts so a somewhat protected location is helpful. Kind of a gangly looking shrub. Looks best with other shrubs, preferably evergreen, to disguise some of the winter bareness.

Concur on all frost protection comments (one year all of my flower buds froze off). I have the species, also an orange and a gold cultivar (neither one is very orange or gold). My species shrub is lush and green once it leafs out, the others are skimpier. Yes, can be an odd looking shrub, but if placed in a spot where you walk past it frequently, an incredible scent. (For those grammar sticklers, it has this scent even if you don't walk past it.) It's a curiosity - many people comment on it. Not a focal point specimen, though.

Yeah, first thing I noticed about it was the fragrance. I am thinking of planting it at the back of my house. So, there are no dwarf cultivars? I like everything about the species except for the size..... I may just plant one anyway and give it a haircut when it starts to outgrow it's space.

Love it. Have had it for over 10 years. The sort called 'Snow Cream' is more vigorous. This is zone 7a, in S. NJ. Did almost lose it, when the girl, who promised to water my garden did only exactly, and no more, than I asked. Did not expect the long rain-less heat, while away for 10 days. It came back from the root. Appreciates light shade. Mine gets about half day of Sun. Also tried the red-flowered kind, twice. Two fails. Its more tender, I guess. The buds are so silvery, and prominent, my wife thought it was in bloom, while still in bud.

I didn't know that there was a red one. What cultivar is it? That flower color would be perfect in another part of the garden.

Plantlust had info. on this plant. Found it by just googling in 'red flowered Edgeworthia'

E. chrysantha 'Akebono'?

There is a red flowered cultivar of E. chrysantha called 'Red Dragon' (aka 'Akebono') but it reportedly does not have the same strong fragrance. There is also another, difficult to locate cultivar called 'Ruby Splash' that supposedly has dark red flowers compared to the tomato soup red of Akebono.

As I said, I failed 2x with Akebono. I am about 3-5 miles from ocean and bay, in zone 7b, so success seems possible, but I doubt I will try again. Did not know any darker than tomato soup.

I can grow some tropical gardenias here so it should work. I can protect it during snow if necessary.

I live in Northern Virginia (zone 61/7b) and have an Edgeworthia that has done very well. I planted it about 8 years ago and it is now about 5; tall and 8' across, and is perfectly dome shaped. I have read many different estimates as to size (from 4' to 10'), so I would take those with a grain of salt. Mine is grown next to my house in a raised bed with very well drained soil. I have seldom had to water it. I have only lost all the flower buds once due to a late hard freeze. It offers year0round interest: in the winter you can see the unique tri-part branching pattern and silvery, fuzzy buds, followed by the fragrant blossoms in the late winter, and the foliage is attractive (rain beads up on the leaves in a nice way). My only complaint is that it has gotten a bit big for the space I have it in, and I hope it stops growing soon. I have read it is touchy, but mine is thriving. I think being sheltered by the house and having good drainage is why it is doing so well.