SHRUBS > FATSIA
Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
FATSIA GUIDES
Also referred to as Japanese Aralia or the ‘Fig Leaf Plant’, Fatsia japonica – as its name suggests – is native to Japan, Korea and Taiwan.1Fatsia. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:3013-1
And, although it wasn’t introduced to Britain until the 19th century, gardeners here have made up for it since.2Fatsia japonica. (n.d.). University of Arizona. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=51
Much beloved by such TV gardening celebs as Alan Titchmarsh, the plant is very popular in the UK and highly praised for both its exotic looks and its toughness.
“Fatsia japonica looks fantastic in an exotic garden with its large, glossy foliage, but it can also make a useful large screening shrub or provide a sense of green calm around more finely textured or vibrantly coloured planting,” says Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly.
This hardy garden favourite can even handle a heavy flurry of snow – making it ideal as a low-maintenance evergreen that will provide year-round interest.
Overview
Botanical Name | Fatsia japonica |
Common Name(s) | Japanese Aralia, Fig Leaf Plant |
Plant Type | Shrub |
Native Area | Japan |
Hardiness Rating | H5 |
Foliage | Evergreen, palmately lobed leaves |
Flowers | Small white flowers |
When To Plant | April, May, June, September, October |
Flowering Months | September |
When To Prune | June |
Sunlight
Preferred
Any
Exposure
Sheltered
Size
Height
2.5 – 4M
Spread
2.5 – 4M
Bloom Time
September
Soil
Preferred
Most Soil Types
Moisture
Moist but well drained
pH
Any
F. japonica has large green, shiny, leather-like leaves.
When it’s flowering, the plant produces clusters of ball-like, white blooms at the tips of the stems.
It can actually grow to as high as 3m tall, but the usual bush height is approximately 1.8m high.
Common Varieties
F. japonica has a number of varieties – many of which have interesting colours or shaped leaves.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the more popular:
F. japonica ‘Variegata’
‘Variegata’ is a pretty plant which includes small blackberries as well as blooms.
It will grow up to 2.4m tall and produce large green leaves with cream edges.
It’s mostly used indoors these days.
F. japonica ‘Spiders Web’
This variety has green leaves variegated with white at the margins, making it appear as if spiders have been weaving their webs on the leaves.
It flowers in the winter months of November and December.
Because it is slow growing this is an excellent container plant or a bush for smaller gardens.
F. japonica ‘Moseri’
Moseri is smaller than the typical variety but has plenty of foliage to get lost in, as well as large flowers on white stems which can appear in autumn and last through to winter (October to January) followed by large blackberries.
Habitat & Growing Conditions
F. japonica doesn’t need a lot of looking after or nurturing.
It can be planted in full-sun, part-shade or shade in a variety of soil conditions.
If there’s a drought in the summer it could do with a little watering and some fertiliser during spring and autumn doesn’t do any harm either.
How To Grow Japanese Aralia
With a new plant, the best time to put it in the soil in your garden is in the spring.
That way the roots will have plenty of time to strengthen and grow so that the winter frosts don’t pose too much of a problem.
It’s fine to plant in the autumn too, provided the soil is still warm enough.
Just make sure you get the right spot in the first place though since this is a plant that definitely doesn’t like to be transplanted once settled!
Exposure
The location should be shaded and not directly in the face of cold winds.
The hole for the root ball to sit in should be around six feet big as it will get bigger as it grows.
In other words, you’ll need around double the size of the hole as the root ball itself.
Feeding & Watering
Add some organic fertiliser or blood, fish and bone into the hole for nourishment.
Make sure the root ball is buried well and the soil is firm before you add water.
The plant should also get plenty of water as it grows – be careful not to water too often though – or you may encourage the onset of fungal disease.
Container Growing
If your plant is in a container then remove the top two inches of soil annually and replace it with a fresher version.
You’ll probably need to move it to a bigger pot in around two to three years’ time.
Ongoing Plant Care
When it comes to growing F. japonica you can bet your current soil is probably just fine.
That’s because this most non-demanding of plants will grow in heavy clay soil, light soil and even soil mixed with chalk.
It will also do well in areas of your garden where there is hardly any shade, such as under a tree.
Another big plus-point of this plant? It will enhance your garden all year round – there are not many plants you can say that about.
So, where’s the catch? Well, there isn’t one really, except most varieties will grow so fast that you will really have to keep an eye on it and prune back when it gets that bit too unruly.
Pruning
The best time to start pruning this plant is really towards the end of spring.
Simply remove the summer-burnt leaves, as well as any shoots which look as if the winter frost has done its worst to them; at the same time remove any bare stems.
Try to retain the shape and symmetry of the shrub as far as possible.
“Although Fatsia japonica can be grown with only light pruning of dead or damaged stems and branches, harder pruning can be used to open up the shrub for aesthetic reasons,” adds Colin.
You will probably have to prune back quite a bit of the bush in order to leave enough space for next year’s growth.
Do so by cutting back the old stems first, down to ground level – this will give them an opportunity to regrow in a healthier manner.
After you have pruned the bush there’s no harm in adding a little nourishment to the plant in the form of blood, fish and bone plant food – or any kind of organic fertiliser you can find.
Winter Care
Watch out for particularly chilly winters – too much cold and the leaves may start to fall off or, in some cases, turn black.
And on this note, you may notice some leaves turning yellow and falling off in late summer.
That’s perfectly normal and these will be replaced with new stems and leaves when spring comes around.
Common Problems
Pests
Like most plants, F. japonica can be prone to an aphid infestation, however, this can be gotten rid of by means of a good spraying with a soap and water mix.
The Capsid bug can also be a pain since this will eat through the new leaves and affect the flowers.
This can be stopped with the use of an insecticide or by simply removing nearby weeds which could potentially be playing host to the bug.
Finally, in terms of bugs and other insects, caterpillars may also go for your F. japonica – simply pick them off and place them far away from the plant in question.
Fungal Disease
Fungal infections can spring unexpectedly and result in blotchy-looking leaves.
To prevent infections from spreading, always allow plenty of air circulation between plants.
You can achieve this by weeding out anything getting in the way of your plant and by removing branches which appear to be clogging up others.
Try to avoid the leaves being wet too.
Shot hole disease is another fungal infection which leads to holes in the leaves.
Remove affected leaves and disinfect your shears to avoid spreading the disease.
Feed and mulch the plant to give it as much nurturing as possible.
FAQs
When should I plant Fatsia japonica?
It should ideally be planted in the spring in order to allow the roots to get established in the soil before the first frost arrives.
They can also be planted in warm soil during the autumn months.
Can I Grow Fatsia japonica In A Container?
Yes, you can grow the plant in a container.
But given it will be in a restricted growing medium it will need to be fed regularly between March and August to help it thrive.
Regular watering is also a must.
If The Shoots Of My Fatsia Are Damaged By Frost, Should I Just Compost It And Start Again?
Not at all! Leave it to perk up again once the warmer weather comes around – that will help it grow new shoots.
Don’t even touch the damaged stems until winter is well past.
I Have A Japanese Aralia With Yellow Leaves. What Am I Doing Wrong?
Is your plant in an area that’s either partly-shaded or fully-shaded?
This plant really hates direct sunlight and shows its displeasure via yellow leaves.
Then again, a Fatsia which is overwatered will also produce yellow leaves since this washes away many nutrients in the soil.
References
- 1Fatsia. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:3013-1
- 2Fatsia japonica. (n.d.). University of Arizona. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=51