Plant guide: Fatsia japonica

With its gloriously huge and glossy leaves, Fatsia japonica is an eye-catching and hardy architectural plant, that makes a bold statement all year round.

Perfect for a lush foliage-rich jungle garden, or as a backdrop to flowering plants and brighter colours, fatsia is a much-used and much-loved plant, that works especially well in smaller or urban gardens. It thrives in almost complete shade, making it invaluable where other plants would struggle and, once established, needs very little care, so it’s a great low-maintenance plant, which will also grow happily enough in pots.

Botanical name: Fatsia japonica

Plant type: Evergreen shrub

Growing conditions: Fatsia is well known for being a shade loving plant, and can cope with a spot in complete shade, which makes it a very useful plant where many others would struggle to grow. However, it will also do well in part shade and even full sun, so this is really a plant for any light levels.

It prefers a moist but well drained soil. If growing in an area of dry soil, then dig through some well-rotted organic matter before planting.

The glossy evergreen leaves of *Fatsia japonica* brighten up a shady spot

Closely related, *Fatsia polycarpa* has elongated, thinner leaves, which can look more elegant but need a bit more sunshine to really thrive

How to plant:

Fatsias are readily available as pot plants and can be bought from just about anywhere. Bigger plants will cost more, but make immediate impact in their place. This is a fast-growing plant, though, so a smaller plant will quickly catch up.

To plant out a container grown plant, first position it where you’d like it in the border. Once you’ve chosen the perfect spot, dig a hole as deep as the container and twice as wide. Squeeze the edges of the pot to release the plant, roots, soil and and all, and place it in the hole. Turn it round so that the most attractive side is facing out, to the eye line, and then back fill the hole and gently firm in. Water well. For more details on planting out, see our guide How to plant out container-grown plants.

Care:

Water well through the first Summer, while it gets established. After the first year, it shouldn’t need watering except for any especially dry periods.

There’s no need to prune fatsia for growth or form. Any stems or leaves that get damaged – for example in any very cold frosts – can be cut back. It’s relatively fast growing, so can be also be pruned to keep its size in check if needed.

Grow with:

With their huge, broad leaves, fatsias can create a lush jungle-type vibe in our colder UK climate. Growing them alongside other large-leaved plants can really maximise this. Take a look at Colocasia or Rodgersia for some really epic foliage!

We love to use fatsia as evergreen screening, and it looks especially stunning paired with the black-stemmed bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra, whose thin leaves contrast really well.

In an entirely shaded garden, pair fatsia with ferns or hostas, for a lush atmosphere. If there are other spots with more sun, then the huge leaves of banana trees work well alongside fatsia to create a jungle vibe.

Fatsia also grow well in pots (as long as they are regularly watered) where they can make a great statement plant on their own.

Closely related:

Slightly less robust than Fatsia japonica, Fatsia polycarpa (pictured above right) is another beautiful plant, with slightly more delicate-shaped leaves.

It needs a little more sunlight than japonica, so does well in a spot that is less deeply shaded. It’s also slightly more susceptible to bad weather, so keep an eye on it in frosty conditions. But in a warm, sheltered spot, with a bit of sun at some point in the day, this is a really elegant fatsia that looks stunning in the garden.