Fatsia Japonica
( FAT - see - uh jah - PAWN - ick - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationFatsia japonica, commonly called Japanese Aralia, Paperplant or False Castor Oil Plant, is an evergreen shrub from Korea and Japan. It has large green leaves, and grows moderately quickly to 5-8 feet tall and wide. Creamy white flowers appear in round clusters in fall and wintertime and are followed by small black fruits in springtime. This shrub provides year-round greenery to shaded entryways, patios, and covered pathways, adding a somewhat tropical look to gardens. Take care when planting these shrubs, as the milky sap can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
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Fatsia japonica Varietals
Fatsia japonica is a species in the genus Fatsia, which is a member of the plant family Araliaceae. This species derives its name from an approximation of the Japanese word for eight (hachi), referring to the plants eight leaf lobes. Fatsia japonica grows best in zones 4-9, 14-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Caring for and pruning Fatsia japonica shrubs
Outdoors, Fatsia japonica prefers rich soil that is slightly acidic and amended with plenty of organic material. Grow these plants in full shade, and protect from strong winds and direct sunlight (both of which can damage the leaves). When planting, sit the top of the root ball about 1-2 inches above the soil surface, and mulch around the bottom to increase soil moisture retention. Keep the soil moist at all times, but not soggy. Fertilize yearly in springtime after the last frosts of the year have passed with a tree and shrub fertilizer (12-6-6). When growing these plants in containers, fertilize every few months in spring and summertime, and withhold feedings in fall and wintertime. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and place the container in a spot that is relatively shaded. Prune annually to keep a bushy habit; cut the entire plant to the ground in late wintertime before new spring growth begins. Another pruning option is to remove a third of the oldest stems every year. Leaf stems that are reaching beyond the shape of the shrub.
Propagation
Japanese Aralia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. Indoor plants rarely flower, so it is best to propagate these via the cutting method. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Fatsia japonica by Cutting
Propagating Fatsia japonica by Seed
Propagating Fatsia japonica by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Fatsia japonica by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a bowl of water, a strainer, a paper towel, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained in the berries produced by these plants in springtime. Wait until late spring, when the fruits have begun to dry and fall off the plant. Cut fruit clusters off the plant and place them in a paper bag, allowing them to dry out more. Then, remove the seeds from the fruits, place them in a bowl of water, and crush them to release the seeds from inside. Place the seeds in a fine strainer and rinse them, then dry them on a paper towel. Once the seeds are dried, they can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place until you are ready to sow them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area (at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit) that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and a temperature of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed and average temperatures reach at least 70 degrees), when you can transplant it to its new home in your garden.
Problems and Pests
Fatsia japonica shrubs are relatively pest- and disease-free, though they do suffer from the following common garden issues:
- Spider Mites
- Scale
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
Gallery
Videos
A video about Japanese Aralia.
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How to grow Japanese Aralia as a houseplant.
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Growing Japanese Aralia in a tree-like form.
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Propagating a Japanese Aralia plant.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 319, Fatsia japonica
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