Plant of the Month: Fatsia japonica

By Judy Weaver

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica) is also known as Japanese fatsia, indicating its origin.  It’s popular in our area as an evergreen foliage plant with a tropical appearance.  A mature plant in ideal conditions can reach 15 feet tall, but typically it will be 6-10 feet tall by 6-10 feet wide.  Fatsia is happy in shade gardens and grows well outside in large containers or as an indoor houseplant.  Pruning all stems by several feet in late winter can rejuvenate the plant and produce very full foliage.  Fatsia flowers in the fall in large dramatic clusters above the foliage.