A thicket forming, sparsely branched, evergreen shrub or small tree with stout shoots. The 5 to 11-lobed leaves, to 90cm (35in) across, scaly, mid-green above and felted pale green beneath, are clustered at the shoot tips. In winter the plant produces umbels, 1cm across, of white flowers in panicle-like inflorescences, to 50cm long, followed by spherical fruit, to 3mm across. It grows to 2.5m high by 2.5m wide. Borderline frost hardy.

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. In order to restrict the spread of established clumps, remove suckers at the extremities. Where top-growth is killed by frost, it maybe almost herbaceous, growing again from below ground. Prune in early spring, when dormant, removing misplaced or crossing shoots to maintain a permanent, healthy framework.

To propagate, sow seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Remove suckers in spring or summer.

Tetrapanax has been naturalised in China. Rice paper made from the pith is used for surgical dressings in China.

Tetra’panax- Rice paper tree. Tetra is Greek for four. The flowers are in fours and have some resemblance to Panax. Araliaceae.

papy’rifer, paper-bearing.

The pith is an important source of fine rice-paper in China.

This rice paper is used for toys, flowers, paintings and surgical dressings.

Handling this plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction. Pollen may cause an allergic reaction.