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Fatsia japonica

Japanese aralia

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
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RHS Plant Shop from £16.99 Sold by 55 nurseries

  • Other common names Japanese aralia
    castor oil plant

    fatsi
    fig-leaf palm
    glossy-leaved paper plant

    see more

  • Synonyms Aralia japonica
    Aralia sieboldii de Vriese

    Aralia sieboldii K. Koch

    see more

  • Family Araliaceae

  • Genus Fatsia are evergreen shrubs with stout, sparsely branched stems bearing large, leathery, palmately lobed leaves and small white flowers in terminal compound umbels, followed by small black fruits

  • Details F. japonica is a medium-sized evergreen shrub of open, spreading habit, with palmately-lobed leaves to 45cm in width and small white flowers in globose clusters. Fruits small, black

  • Plant range Japan

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Suckering

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H5

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Full Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 2.5-4 metres

  • Ultimate spread 2.5-4 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grows best in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade; can tolerate full shade

Propagation Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types Banks and Slopes Low Maintenance Architectural City & Courtyard Gardens Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 9

Pests Can get scale insects, thrips and mealybugs

Diseases May be affected by a leaf spot

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Fatsia japonica

Japanese aralia

Buy from £16.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £16.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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