Fatsia japonica
Fatsia Japonica – False castor-oil plant, Japanese aralia
Fatsia japonica is a native to coastal woodland areas of Japan and South Korea and was first introduced into the British Isles in the early part of the 19th century. The common name refers to its resemblance to the true castor-oil plant, Ricinus communis which is unrelated and not hardy. Fatsia japonica is an easily grown exotic garden plant that is hardy, giving a very tropical feel to the garden with its large leaves, especially in the winter months.
It is an evergreen shrub growing from to 2-3m in height and spread, though it can be pruned to keep to the size you require.
It has stout, sparsely branched stems, with deeply lobed, (like stretched fingers) shiny dark green leaves that can be up to 30cm across, the whole shrub giving a very pleasing appearance. Dense bunches of small white flowers appear in mid-autumn above the foliage, followed by small black fruit that are much loved by birds in really cold weather.
Common Name: False castor-oil plant
Latin Name: Fatsia japonica
Tenderness Rating: Hardy, sun or shade
Ease of growing: It works well as a container plant as long as its well fed. Fairly drought tolerant once established
Position: It prefers a sheltered location away from cold winds and heavy frosts.
Soil Condition: Any well drained soil
Side picture: There are several variegated forms available for the more adventurous.
Hardy & Winter Proof FatsiaFatsia japonica (Japanese aralia or caster oil plant)
The large deeply lobed leaves of Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia or caster oil plant) give an instantly tropical appearance although they are quite hardy in the UK. It is also quite unusual as an architectural shrub that also flowers in winter. Mine are currently in flower December 2018.
Previously thought to be tender in Britain they have been kept as houseplants in the passed but are now commonly grown outdoors across the UK. The official RHS hardiness rating is H5 which is down to -15°c which makes them one of the more hardier evergreen jungle effect plants you can grow in cold climates.
Fatsia japonica Care and ProblemsFatsia japonica Care and Problems
Generally they are pretty hardy and often described as tough as old boots. I’ve grown them for many years and have experienced no significant problems.
The new growth when it appears in Spring and Autumn can be attacked by blackfly which can disfigure the leaves. You can just wipe them off with your hands. I’ve never sprayed them.
If there is a sharp frost the new growth can get ‘burned’ which turns it black, the plant will however recover with new growth and is never usually an issue.
Fatsia japonicas leave droop at around -5c
One strange behaviour you will notice is that in winter if we get subzero temperatures, I noticed this in temperatures around -5c the foliage will droop. The plant looks like its leaves have been starved of water but this is a natural mechanism that protects the large leaves from unusually cold weather. As the air warms the leaves return to normal with no damage.
Fatsia japonicas is winter hardyFatsia japonica Flowers and flowering
The flowers of the Japanese Aralia are unusual being similar the flowers of Ivy (Hedera helix) possibly slightly larger. They do look quite exotic as they start to open and appear in clumps of several white balls which will when pollinated produce small black fruits containing the seeds.
I’ve got a few pictures here of Fatsia flowering in November when the flowers start to form and December when they open. It is winter flowering so there aren’t many flying insects around to pollinate them but they do usually get pollinated and produce seed.
Fatsia japonica november flowers Fatsia japonica december floweringFatsia japonica Varieties in the UKA group of various fatsia
There are a number of different Fatsia forms available to buy in the UK. The most, the standard Fatsia japonica is widely grown and often used in council landscaping due to its tough, reliable nature and visual architectural impact.
These are also low maintenance evergreen plants and only really need the dead flower stalks removing if you are not saving the seeds and the dead leaves removing. As the foliage is so large there are not many leaves which means if you leave them to fall naturally there is not much to tidy up.
Japanese AraliaJapanese aralia
With the large architectural foliage and comparatively narrow stems this is a well behaved garden plant that can provide instant impact. As it can grow to 3 or 4 metres in the UK it can add height in a small garden where a larger tree would not be appropriate.
Fatsia japonica ‘Moseri’Fatsia japonica moseri
A more compact form of Fatsia can be found with ‘Moseri’. It doesn’t grow as tall and is purportedly said to have larger foliage although I haven’t noticed any significant leaf size variation.
I have been growing this variety for several years and grows at a slower rate with regards to height although it can reach 2 metres eventually. A good alternative for those with less space.
Fatsia Japonica ‘Spiders Web’Fatsia spiders web spring new foliage
Fatsia ‘Spiders Web’ is an unusual variegated form where the large lobed leaves are covered in white spidery variegation giving it a mottled appearance.
I have found it to be a much slower grower than the standard green Fatsia and have yet to see a mature specimen which can supposedly reach 2 metres in height. If you have limited space or want something stunning for a pot then Spiders Web is a good option.
Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’Fatsia japonica variagata variegated fatsia
There is a cream variegated version of the standard green Fatsia. I have found Variegata to perform very similarly to the green leaved Fatsia except for the variegation which appears randomly but mostly around the edges of the leaf.
Sometimes the cream patterning does not appear, sometimes there is a small amount of cream colouring on the green foliage but it looks most spectacular when large patches of creamy white variegation appear on the leaves.
Fatsia japonica ‘Annelise’Fatsia japonica annelise
The most spectacular looking variegation appears on the form ‘Annelise’ which has cream veined leaves with dark, mid and light green variegated patterning.
I have also found that Annelise seems to grow at a slower rate compared to its green leaved relative. Again like ‘Spiders Web’ it looks great in a pot and this will also restrict the growth if space is a limiting factor.
Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green Fingers’Fatsia polycarpa green fingers
Not strictly japonica (Japan) but polycarpa (Taiwan) a close relation and very similar in looks. This has more slender lobed foliage and overall more airy and delicate looking giving it a more exotic and tropical appearance.
It is not as hardy as taking lows down to around -5°c to -10°c, possibly hardier than the standard Fatsia polycarpa although not long term proven in the UK.
Fatsia It is a low-maintenance plant that thrives well on its own in the right weather conditions.
Soil: It needs moist, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic like chalk, loamy, or sandy soil.
Water: The water needs of this shrub are average and although the soil should be kept consistently moist, be careful not to overwater it.
Light: It needs partial shade to full shade t to thrive and should be protected from the heat of the afternoon sun so as not to hurt its delicate leaves. More: Does fatsia like sun or shade?
Winter care: Fascia japonica is not a frost-hardy shrub and can be easily affected by frostbite. You can cut the entire plant to the ground in winter in anticipation of new growth.
Temperature and humidity: It is native to temperate regions so when growing it out of its natural climate be sure to maintain a warm and humid environment. It needs 15 -26 degrees celsius and humidity of over 60% to thrive.
Pruning: It requires only minimal pruning to maintain its bushy appearance. Pruning can be done once a year in late spring.
How To Grow And Care For Fatsia Japonica
This exotic plant can be propagated either from its seed or from stem cuttings.
How to grow Fatsia Japonica and propagation by seed
Gather the seeds from the ripe berries and plant them lightly on moist soil. The seeds are dependent on light for germination, so it is important to plant them only lightly. A better option will have been to scatter them sparingly on the floor, but they can be picked up by birds or moved by wind so simply plant them in shallow holes.
Propagation by seed is simple but can take up to 40 days before the seeds germinate.
How to grow Fatsia Japonica via propagation by stem cuttings
Propagation by stem cutting is the popular choice for the cultivation of fatsia japonica because it takes a shorter time to germinate. To propagate through stem cuttings simply take 3-5 inch firm pieces from semi-ripe stems. Remove all the leaves from the stem cuttings and place the 2-3 inches deep into moist and well-draining soil. Cover the cuttings either in the ground or in the planting pots with plastic a plastic bag to generate the warmth and humidity that it needs to form a root system. Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy until it forms a root system.
To check if a root system has developed, pull gently on the cuttings if it doesn’t budge then leave it to keep growing.
Fatsia japonica – False castor-oil plant, Japanese aralia for sale
Fatsia japonica, also called Spider web or Japanese Ariala belongs to the small Fatsia genus with only two other species: Fatsia oligocarpella and Fatsia polycarpa. It is an evergreen shrub and remains a popular choice for a tropical border because of its dramatic, lush, and leathery foliage.
Its palmately lobed leaves are broad and spirally arranged on a petiole that shoots upwards 20 inches. Also, its variegated foliage is dark-green and heavily speckled with white though the variegation pattern changes with seasons and as the shrub ages. These broad lobed leaves sit on stout stems that grow up 4 – 5 feet in length and 3 – 4 feet in diameter.
Even more, it is native to Southern Japan and Southern Korea where it gets its name; Fatsia means 8 in Japanese, representing the 8 lobed leaves that give way to the production of glossy blackberries and blooms of tiny white flowers in late autumn to early winter.
Lastly, it is a low maintenance plant, easy to grow in the right condition and thrives in moist, well-drained soil when placed in partial to full shade either as an outdoor plant or a potted indoor plant.
Commons problems when growing Fatsia Japonica
Fatsia japonica problems often occur because the flowers are attractive to several pollinating insects that can be parasitic and predaceous. Insects like spider mites, Milly bugs, aphids, plant scale bugs, thrips, etc.
Occasionally, the shrub can be affected by fungal and bacterial leaf spots which can be controlled by cutting off spotted leaves and using a fungicide. Lastly, phytophthora roots may affect the plant root in cases of overwatering and poor soil draining conditions.
Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’
‘Spiders Web’ is probably the most intricate looking of the Fatsia’s with the distinctive white web like leaf pattern. I have found that little is needed in the way of care or pruning and does well in shade where it can show off its variegation to its best. The distinct white appears as the leaf grows in size. As you can see in the above picture the smaller immature leaves and the bottom left showing the leaves from the standard Fatsia japonica.
FAQ
How do you propagate fatsia japonica?
Fatsia japonica can be propagated from seeds or semi-ripe stem cuttings.
How do you prune fatsia japonica?
First, remove the oldest stems closest to the ground and cut the stems by 2 feet. Lastly, remove stand-alone stems from the centre to create an open habit.
Can you split a fatsia japonica?
The short answer is yes. You can split it for planting, and it will grow back easily and quickly.
When do you plant fatsia japonica?
You can plant fatsia japonica from seeds or stem cuttings.
How do you grow fatsia?
Grow fatsia japonica is moist, well-draining soil and placed in partial to full shade.
How do you take cuttings fatsia japonica?
Select a stem that is semi-ripe and cut 4-6 inches of it.
Can I grow fatsia japonica in a container?
Yes, it needs large containers to grow and look good as a landscape plant on your patio.
How do you trim fatsia japonica?
Trim fatsia japonica in late spring and early summer so that it can recover in the next planting period.
Is fatsia japonica poisonous to cats?
Fatsia japonica is non-poisonous and safe for cats.
What is eating my fatsia japonica?
Fatsia japonica is attractive to insects like spider mites and mealy bugs and they can be eating your fatsia japonica plant.