How to grow Fatsia

What are fatsias?

Fatsias are large, hardy, evergreen shrubs growing 2-3m tall and wide, with evergreen leaves up to 50cm across. They are native

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

to Japan, Korea and Taiwan and are commonly known as Japanese aralia. Their botanical family, Araliaceae, also includes Hedera (ivy) and Schefflera, which is often grown as a houseplant.

Choosing

Fatsia japonica is the main species, with a few different cultivars, though they are mostly similar in shape and form. Where they differ is in the leaf colour, with varying degrees of white, cream or yellow variegation

Variegated means having leaves or other plant parts with streaks, blotches or patches of different colours. Typically, these would be a combination of two colours, such as green and gold or green and white.

. The cultivars Fatsia japonica ‘Moseri’  and F. japonica ‘Annelise’ don’t grow as large as the others, so are potentially suitable for indoor use. F. polycarpa is similar in appearance and size to F. japonica, with very attractive leaves, but is much less hardy so it will need winter protection if grown outdoors.

Fatsia japonica, F. japonica ‘Variegata’  and F. polycarpa  have the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit, showing they have been tested and trialled by the RHS for garden worthiness.

Buying

Fatsias are widely available in garden centres all over the UK and from online nurseries. They are  often available as more mature specimens and as houseplants in indoor sections of garden centres.

Use the RHS Find a Plant tool to track down stockists of specific cultivars.

Buying: trees and shrubs

How to choose healthy plants

Buying: garden centre plants

Buying: mail order plants

When to plant

These shrubs can be planted at any time of year, but ideally avoid planting in summer when they’ll need additional watering or in winter if the ground is frozen. Spring and autumn are optimum times to plant. They’re more likely to receive rainfall at these times and in the autumn the soil will still be warm, which helps the roots get established.

Where to plant

Fatsias do best in partial shade in fertile soil but they will also tolerate deeper shade and dry soil. In dry soil they will need additional watering when they are first planted to help them get established. Similarly, they will tolerate full sun providing the soil is fertile and doesn’t dry out too quickly. They’ll cover 2-3 sq.m so make sure you give them plenty of space.

How to plant

In borders

Fatsias prefer partial shade and moist, rich soil. For more information and tips about how to plant them, look at our webpage on planting shrubs.

How to plant a shrub

In containers

Fatsias can make good short-term container plants, though in the long term, they will grow large. Plant them in a soil-based, peat-free compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

like John Innes No. 3. They’ll need plenty of water and regular feeding.

Growing plants in containers

Watering

If they are growing in the garden they shouldn’t need watering once they’re established. Mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

the soil every year with well-rotted manure or home-made compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

. This will help the soil hold on to moisture and avoid the need for additional watering.

If plants are growing in containers they will need regular watering, especially in spring and summer. The surface of peat-free compost often looks dry but in fact is still moist below the surface, so check beforehand to avoid overwatering. Push your finger into the compost to feel if it is dry or damp below the surface. Apply water if the compost feels dry.

Mulches and mulching

How to water containers

Feeding

If they are growing in fertile soil they shouldn’t need additional feeding. Regular mulching with organic matter will provide enough nutrients

To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key nutrients usually taken up from the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Plants also need carbon, oxygen and hydrogen to make carbohydrates — their main energy source. Carbon and oxygen come from the air as carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is drawn from water absorbed by the roots. Other important soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough of these nutrients to support healthy plant growth.

. 

In containers they will need feeding during the spring and summer. Try an organic fertiliser like liquid seaweed or a more sustainable option is to make your own using comfrey plants.

How to feed plants

Homemade fertilisers

Deadheading

Creamy-white flowers appear in October/November. They do not require deadheading

Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from plants to encourage more blooms and prevent seed production. This helps to redirect the plant's energy into producing more flowers rather than producing seeds.

, simply allow the spent flowers to die back naturally and fall to the soil, where they will rot down. As plants become mature they will sometimes produce black berries which are attractive to birds.

Overwintering

Most fatsias are hardy, so don’t need winter protection, but Fatsia polycarpa needs frost-free conditions.

Preventing winter damage

Caring for older plants

Mature plants can be reduced in size and renovated if they’ve become overgrown or too large. Prune back old stems in spring and new growth will appear. Spreading a mulch of well-rotted manure around the base of the plant will help encourage new growth and help prevent water evaporation from the soil.

Fatsias need no routine pruning. Wayward, dead or damaged shoots can be removed in mid- to late spring. They can be pruned to reduce their size but as they are so architectural, pruning can sometimes spoil their shape.

By cuttings

Cuttings

A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year.

are the quickest and easiest technique. Take semi-ripe cuttings

Semi ripe cuttings are taken from summer to mid-autumn (Jul-Sep) from healthy stems grown this season. The base of the cutting is firm, while the tip is still soft. Use for climbers, herbs, evergreen shrubs, conifers and hedging plants.

about 20cm long in spring or summer, place them in pots of peat-free potting compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

and keep at a temperature of 15-20°C.  

Cuttings: semi-ripe

By seed

After the plant has flowered, allow the berries to form. Wait until the berries are dark and ripe, usually in late winter or early spring. Soak the berries in water until the pulp is soft then crush the softened pulp to extract the seeds.

Sow seeds into peat-free potting compost, covering them lightly with compost. Water them and place in a heated propagator

A heated propagator is a portable heated structure with a vented lid and adjustable, constant, thermostatic temperature control. It provides a warm, humid environment to help seeds germinate and cuttings to root quickly.

. Ideally, they’ll need 20°C to help them germinate.

Place the propagator

A propagator is a portable, lightweight structure usually plastic, with a vented or unvented lid to provide a humid, slightly warmer atmosphere. It is useful to help seeds germinate and root cuttings. It may have adjustable, thermostatic temperature control.

out of direct sunlight and keep the compost moist but not soggy. Germination

Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

can take anywhere from two to eight weeks.

When the seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

are large enough to handle (about 7cm tall), transplant them into larger pots. Ensure they remain in a warm environment and continue to provide adequate moisture.

Care for young plants

Water young plants regularly, especially during dry periods. As they grow, you can acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. Wait until after the danger of frost has passed and then place the young plants outdoors during the spring and summer. You should be able to plant them in the garden in the autumn. 

Insects

May be susceptible to:

• Scale insects
• Thrips
• Mealybugs (if grown indoors)

Diseases

May be susceptible to:

• Leaf spot
• Honey fungus

If you are a member of the RHS, you can use our online Gardening Advice Service, via MyRHS, for any gardening problems or queries.