PlantFiles: Fatsia, Paperplant, Japanese Aralia
Fatsia japonica

I live in Reno, NV and bought 4 of these from WalMart last year. They were sold indoors so I figured 'good luck' on having them winter over. The leaves were green and waxy down to about 10 degrees. Spring came and sure enough they sprouted again.

Fast-forward to THIS winter. Ugghh! 'Global Warming' hit and we went 8 below zero. Haven't had any warm spells yet, I hope my Aralias make it. They are planted next to the house, I believe this gives them a little extra protection, I'll let everyone know how things shake out this spring. It is notable that the leaves appear brown and limp more than last winter... keep 'em crossed!!

I'm in Christchurch city New Zealand (USDA was zone 9a 25 years ago but for the last 10 years seems to now be 9b)

There was one multi-stemmed shrub about 2.4 metres / 8foot tall at my neighbours on one side, she cut it down to a stump and it has regenerated well into a bunch of foliage at ground level (which is the look she wanted in that part of her garden).

My neighbour's on the other side, had a smaller Fatsia shrub. I actually pruned it very hard back about 2005 one time when the place was un-tennanted and un-occupied. (as the common lattice-fence is to my North, it blocks my sun, I'm in the southern hemisphere remember) Yeah so in about 2005 it was a dense bush some maybe 5 feet 1.6 m tall. I pruned it back severely to just a skeleton of a few short stems

Since then it has grown to at least 2.4 m / 8' high and 2 m / 6 ft wide and deep

Yeah so now it's blockin' even more of my sun (to the perrenial Scarlet Runner beans I grow up the lattice) but the new neighbour likes it, so fair enough

About 9 months ago I noticed by the distinctive foliage a young one coming up on my side of the fence, I assumed it was a sucker from the parent shrub's roots. I gently dug it out with a small knife but it was obvious then it had grown naturally as a seedling. I have since gotten another 3 seedlings this way and all have recovered well, even when taken with very little roots intact and are growing excellently in pots (intended for later transplanting elsewhere)

I have noticed this plant growing in quite a few gardens in Christchurch.

Note that this is a near-maritime climate as opposed to USA/Canada or mainland Europe type "inland-continental" climate

Good gardeners, and correct site selection, means lemon trees grow slowly but well here, and really green fingered gardeners get oranges and mandarins also. I would describe my climate here as USDA zone 9b. Suburbs a few kms further westwards, inland from the coast I'd suggest are zone 9a

As a comparison, 25 years ago the Norfolk Island Pine (Aracauria excelsior ?) was only able to be grown in this area as an indoor plant (except for absolute coastal/seaside plantings within yards of the hightide line at Brighton, Sumner and Akaroa etc) and when they got too big for a large pot, folks would plant them out in the garden and they'd get clobbered by the frost every Winter and decline until finally dead, but since returning from my 20 years in Australia, 2 years ago, I have now seen a number in gardens which have obviously been there 5 or 10 years at least.....proof of global warming maybe !

I recommend Fatsia japonica for a tropical looking garden shrub in areas where suitable. Note just today I saw several good specimens just under a metre high and round, in large pots, in a garden setting outside a city restaurant ("Octagon"? on the corner of Worcester and Manchester, in the historic old church building), so they'd seem to be a good choice for a potted plant in very-well lit indoor or outdoor areas also. These potted ones get full sun until midday. My neighbour's one along my northern lattice fence boundary gets pretty much full sun all day long. We are at roughly 43* South latitude here

Catherine Jemma 11 Dec 2009

A great starter plant for an exotic looking garden, especially in area that can't grow subtropical/tropical plants.. because of their hardiness it goes well with species of bamboo, and in particular palms like Trachycarpus fortunei and and hardy banana, Musa basjoo.

Although this plant is hardy without a shadow of a doubt give its exotic look, it is only sure hardy in zone 8 and above, and based on other peoples accounts damage can occur below -10C (although it can survive if sited in a sheltered area).

Fatsia japonica has started to naturalise in my part of the country country (and undoubtedly other milder areas), as Japanese plants have a tendency to do well in the UK, there is a fairly old naturalised plant about 15 feet in height in our town and I have spotted another smaller escapee recently too. There is no chance of these becoming a pest or invasive though to they're a welcome addition.

A nice filler shrub

I was first reluctant to plant this one here, fearing that it would inevitably die. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Here in Krapets, snow only stays on the ground for no more than ten days a year on average, and it happens quite often that it is absent right when it is coldest. That has caused death to a Californian Fan Palm most recently, and total defoliation to an Olive tree and a Bottlebrush previously, and even severe dieback in a Crepe myrtle and an Escallonia. Nothing of that sort to Paperplant. It has been buffeted by cold northerlies for at least three years since it was planted, and hasn't suffered a bit. Also, it is in a quite moist situation, and has grown, flowered, fruited, and managed to become a small, handsome branched shrub. Certainly hardier than given credit.

F. Japonica was planted in shade last year as a 18 inch plant and wintered very well here in Sydney. I did note that growth was steady through the winter but cold temps resulted in new leaves having less lobing and "fingers"than those sprouted during warmer weather. One week the temps never exceeded 50 during the day and new leaves had only 3 lobes. Just a month into Spring and F Japonica is now nearly 4 feet tall with 3 stems. I think I will look for more places in at least part shade where I can use this plant as the deep green. evergreen foliage can fill in any empty spot nicely. Only good things to say!

Great plant, interesting leaves and unusual flowers which produce relatively large seeds that Mockingbirds love to eat.

this plant is very common in the greater columbia area such as lexington, SC as well as the lowcountry. it adds a great tropical look, and when it gets mature, it starts to look somewhat like a papaya tree, if it is kept solitary and does not branch. one great example is included in the pictures if anyone is curious about my description.

Easy to grow here as long as it is sited properly -- this plant really does not like direct southern sun and prefers to be well mulched. Part shade.

Looking to break away from the boring old boxy hedges??

This plant can be used as a shrub alternative in the south, as it is dependably evergreen (in warmer climates).

My childhood backyard memories include a 4' Fatsia japonica, which I used to crawl around underneath.

I have now added one to my backyard and it's doing great. It is planted fenceline for protection and gives a nice contrast to a nearby Japanese maple. The glossy leaves range in color from light to dark, and the flowers are interesting.

Mine 4 year old Fatsia just got a fungus & the nursery lady said there's nothing I can do. Some spore got in the soil. I'm devastated. It was gorgeous last week! Now the leaves have closed like an umbrella.

She even said not to plant another in its place for a while because the ground is contaminated.

Impressive, tropical-looking large shrub with big leaves. Japanese aralia is tall and tree like in habit and grows quite fast. Tender young growth can be killed by frost but the plant usually hardens off its growth by the time winter comes. Leaves can be burnt in full sun so be sure to plant it in shade.

My first reaction to this plant was, "Ugh" but after living with it in a tropical area, I give it a thumbs up. Very low maintenance, just hack off the top every so often and wash down the leaves.

with Fatsia u can get a tropical feeling in a garden!

my plant has survived down to -12C more than one winter with absolut NO damage...a good friend planted one and the plant had been changed into mud by only -3C...so i think there are differen versions in "fatsia japonica".

my plant grows 40 cm each year and cause of the house nearby i must cut down it, to save place.
more or less a shaddow-place and each christmastime the beutiful flowers are to see.

Perfect contrast to smaller leaves of a boxwood or privet hedge. In my experience, it will tolerate some full sun (even in Southern California) if given sufficient water. When it gets too tall, I cut back hard. The plants bounce back with lush new growth. Giant whitefly can be a problem. But, I simply cut off leaves that are infested. The globular blooms have an unpleasant odor. I usually cut them off before bloom.

This is a nice plant to grow. I have my Japanese Aralia planted in full shade and it looks great. It adds a tropical look to the garden.