Leaf
David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fatsia
Fatsia japonica (Thunb.) Decne. & Planch.
Also known as: Japanese aralia, Japanese fatsia
Family: Araliaceae
2 to 4 m tall
Shaded borders and patios, planted above all for its architectural foliage; tolerates urban pollution well
Flowering: October – November
Shade
Part shade
Hardy to about -12°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
It flowers in autumn, a time when very few shrubs are in bloom — its white globes provide one of the last sources of nectar of the season for foraging insects.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, very large (up to 30-40 cm), palmate, deeply lobed, glossy dark green
🌸 Flowers
Cream-white, in spherical umbels gathered in large panicles, late autumn flowering
🍎 Fruits
Small spherical black berries in winter
🪵 Bark
Thick, sparsely branched stems, marked with leaf scars
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Japan and South Korea; widely grown in Europe for its exotic foliage
🐝 Value for pollinators
Late autumn flowering, a nectar source appreciated when few other flowers are available
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted for its exotic, architectural foliage in a shaded position, also grown in pots
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Not documented as toxic, but the sap may irritate the skin in some sensitive people
🌿 Other Araliaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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