Overview

Fatsia polycarpa is a bushy shrubs in the genus Fatsia, part of the Araliaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 2.5-4 metres tall and 1.5-2.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 10-20 years. Fatsia polycarpa grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include architectural, city and courtyard gardens, coastal, patio and container plants, mediterranean climate plants and wall side borders.

About

Fatsia polycarpa, the many-fruited aralia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, endemic to Taiwan, where it is threatened by habitat loss. Growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8.2 ft) broad, it is a substantial evergreen shrub with large palmate leaves to 30 cm (12 in). Spherical clusters of cream or white flowers are produced in winter, followed by black fruits in spring. Fatsia polycarpa is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It grows to around 2.5-4 metres tall and 1.5-2.5 metres wide, carrying evergreen foliage. Grow it in full sun and partial shade and most soil types. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained conditions and south-facing, west-facing and east-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Fatsia polycarpa

About the genus

Fatsia is a small genus of three species of evergreen shrubs in the family Araliaceae native to Korea, southern Japan and Taiwan. They typically have stout, sparsely branched stems bearing spirally-arranged, large leathery, palmately lobed leaves 20–50 cm in width, on a petiole up to 50 cm long, and small creamy-white flowers in dense terminal compound umbels in late autumn or early winter, followed by small black fruit.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Fatsia

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Fatsia polycarpa size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Shrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

2.5-4 metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Time to full height

10-20 years

Suggested uses

Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Patio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants, Wall side borders

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Fatsia polycarpa

Propagation

Semi-hardwood cuttings

Pest resistance

Scale insects, Thrips, Mealybugs

Disease resistance

Leaf spot, Honey fungus

Frequently asked questions