Japanese aralia
Fatsia japonica · Araliaceae
📷 Fernando Losada Rodríguez · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
Japanese aralia is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Fatsia japonica
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- September to October
- Adult size
- Up to 2 m in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Zones 8 to 11 (−5 °C minimum)
- Origin
- Japan and Taiwan
- Soil type
- Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Fatsia japonica loves shade or partial shade with rich, moist soil. Mulch generously every spring.
The common mistake
Putting it in hot, direct sun: the foliage becomes dull, leaves turn yellow and spider mites and scale insects attack it much more aggressively.
The pro's trick
In autumn, when flowers appear (September-October), few gardeners know this: it's an excellent nectar source for bees and bumblebees late in the season.
Care
Light
Japanese aralia prefers indirect light and partial shade. Avoid intense direct sunlight which can scorch its foliage. Indoors, place it near an east or west-facing window, away from heating devices.
Watering
Keep the soil moist but not saturated, especially during the growing season. Reduce watering in winter. Check the humidity of the top few centimeters of soil before watering. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
Pruning and maintenance
Pinch young stems in spring to promote a bushy shape. Trim dead or overly long branches in late winter. This plant tolerates pruning well and responds with increased branching.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer every 15 days in spring and summer. Reduce to monthly application in fall. Stop feeding in winter. Use a balanced NPK formulation suitable for houseplants.
Soil preparation
Use a rich, light, well-drained substrate made of quality potting soil mixed with perlite or sand. This plant appreciates slightly acidic soil. Repot in spring every 2 to 3 years.
Diseases and pests
Watch for spider mites and mealybugs, especially indoors. Yellow leaves often indicate excess moisture or poor drainage. Increase air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Did you know?
Japanese aralia has been highly prized in Asia for centuries for decorating interiors and shaded gardens. Its name 'fatsia' may come from the Japanese word 'fatsube' which literally means 'thousand flowers'. In Europe and North America, it has become a very popular houseplant thanks to its shade tolerance and elegant palmate foliage.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Common ivyHedera helix
- Japanese angelica treeAralia elata
- Persian ivyHedera colchica
- Cabbage treeCussonia spicata
- Fatsia polycarpaFatsia polycarpa
- Algerian ivyHedera algeriensis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.