Family Araliaceae
Originating from South Korea and Japan

• A lush, evergreen shrub with large, glossy, dark green leaves.
• Creamy white flower clusters bloom in late summer, followed by black berries.
• Hardy and low-care, it thrives in dry shade and any well-drained soil.

A jungle titan and woodland wonder, Fatsia japonica dazzles with bold, architectural flair. Its huge, hand-like leaves create a standout woodland backdrop or striking centrepiece. This Urban Jungle favourite grows 3m tall and 2.5m wide in 10-15 years.

Prized for toughness, it laughs off dry shade and root competition. Prune hard to keep it compact or lift lower foliage for a tree-like vibe—perfect for Norfolk and Suffolk’s shadier plots. Late summer brings pollinator-loved blooms, with berries adding winter charm. Late frost may nip new growth, but it bounces back fast.

Care Tips for Fatsia japonica, the Japanese Aralia

• Soil & Sun: Grows in any well-drained soil; loves shade, tolerates sun
• Planting: Space wide for its spread—thrives under trees or against walls
• Watering: Keep moist while young, then drought-hardy once rooted
• Pruning: Cut hard in spring for size; lift lower leaves for shape

Grand and glossy, Fatsia japonica brings evergreen drama to East Anglia’s gardens. It’s a hardy star for jungle borders, bold focal points, and hard-to-plant areas where other species falter.

Planting Suggestions for the False Castor Oil Plant

This species’ fantastic robustness shines through its ivy family roots, evident in its showy flowers and fruit. Furthermore, it adapts to all garden styles and is ideal for punctuating contemporary plantings with its dramatic evergreen foliage.

It makes a handsome specimen for large pots, ideal between rounded evergreens like Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Gold Star’, Pittosporum ‘Nanum Variegatum’, and the taller Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Cratus’.

In woodland or jungle gardens, its bushy evergreen form creates a year-round foil for large-leaved deciduous species like Paulownia elongata, Dicksonia antarctica, Hosta ‘Empress Wu’, and Ligularia przewalskii.

For further reading on Fatsia japonica, visit: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fatsia+japonica