PUSHING THE BORDERS

A genus of plants with just a few species catalogued which have tiny flowers which are epiphyllous, i.e. they grow out of the leaf surface, in the case of Helwingia, from the leaf mid rib.

I grew H. chinensis in my old garden and found it to be hardy and evergreen. I was fascinated by the sight of flowers growing out of the leaves. It appears to be quite widely available in the UK.

A couple of years ago I planted Helwingia himalaica in dappled shade where it has done very well and despite dry soil conditions it has remained evergreen. There are, apparently, a broad leafed and a narrow leafed form of this plant but from online pictures of both I can’t tell the difference between them.

My plant flowering



While looking for information about the genus I came across a reference to Helwingia japonica in ‘Trees and Shrubs online’ https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/ar ... -japonica/
The picture was taken at the National Trust garden Trelissick so I went along to try and find it. Fortunately, a very helpful and knowledgeable NT gardener was available to show me where it stands.



I like the combo of the flowers and bullate leaf pattern.

The only other species I have come across online is Helwingia omeiensis, but found no reference to it growing in the UK. The Esveld nursery in Holland sell the plant but only ship to UK customers twice a year via a UK agent which I would imagine adds considerably to the cost.

Anyone aware of other sources of H. japonica or H omeiensis?

I haven't grown any of these.

Nick at PanGlobal sometimes has the narrow leafed form of Helwingia chinensis which is distinct.

The RHS list two suppliers for Helwingia omeiensis [defective link], both of whom have it on their current 'list'.

I can't see a supplier for H.japonica.

Trees and Shrubs online says they come easilly from soft wood cuttings. Have you tried?


Chad

ps. The 'agent' is Poppins Plants in Suffolk, have you contacted them to ask how much the import and onward postage would be?

Thanks for the reply Chad.

Chad wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 6:53 am
The RHS list two suppliers for Helwingia omeiensis, both of whom have it on their current 'list'.

Unfortunately the link doesn't take me to the list of two suppliers and I can't find any reference to H. omeiensis on the RHS site????

Chad wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 6:53 am I can't see a supplier for H.japonica.

Trees and Shrubs online says they come easilly from soft wood cuttings. Have you tried?

Not yet, but I intend returning next month to find the friendly gardener and ask if I can take a bit.

Chad wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 6:53 am ps. The 'agent' is Poppins Plants in Suffolk, have you contacted them to ask how much the import and onward postage would be?

Yes, but have not had any response yet.

Sorry that link doesn't work.

It did until I posted it.

Try using this page, and put Helwingia omeiensis in the search box.

If The RHS site still doesn't save sensibly, the nurseries are;

Swines Meadow Farm Nursery and Woodlands Plants.

I hope some of those links work!

Chad

Thanks Chad, all those links work.

AndyC wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 6:14 am despite dry soil conditions it has remained evergreen.

I guess there is Falmouth dry soil and Benfleet dry soil*. I grew chinensis for several years whilst I still irrigated but it looks ragged once I made the decision to stop. I cut it hard back to encourage new growth but I think it decided enough was enough and didn't bother returning. For me the bronze coloured new growth was the major appeal, lovely thing in the right spot.

*Had a whopping 0.2mm of rainfall during April. I believe that is a record.

Thanks again Chad, Woodlands Plants came up trumps.
They have a very interesting and unusual plant list.

Paul, I shouldn't have described my soil as 'dry', it was anything but after the winter. It does, however' dry out very quickly and before the rain we had over the weekend, was looking like yet another period of drought conditions.