Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Fatsia japonica
Japanese Aralia
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Height
- 5 to 10 feet
- Width
- 5 to 8 feet
- Flower color
- Small white flowers in clusters (umbels)
- Foliage color
- Glossy, dark green, deeply lobed leaves
- Bloom time
- Late fall to early winter
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; occasional pruning to shape and remove damaged leaves
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 10
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract pollinators; berries (black or purple) are food for birds
About this plant
Fatsia japonica, commonly known as Japanese aralia, is an evergreen shrub prized for its bold, tropical-looking foliage. Its large, deeply lobed, glossy green leaves create a lush and architectural appearance, making it a standout in shady garden spaces. In late fall to early winter, the plant produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers held in spherical umbels, which are followed by small black berries that attract birds.
Native to Japan and Korea, Fatsia japonica thrives in woodland settings and urban gardens alike, valued for its adaptability and year-round interest. Its dramatic foliage and late-season blooms make it a popular choice for adding texture and greenery to sheltered spots, whether as a specimen plant or part of a mixed border. The shrub's origins in temperate East Asia contribute to its resilience and ornamental charm.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Under Trees · Specimen Plants
Companion plants
Skimmia · Japanese forest grass · Epimedium · Pieris · Trillium · Foamflower
Design tip
The oversized, deeply lobed leaves can introduce a tropical character into a temperate shade garden. Use Japanese aralia as a bold textural counterpoint to fine-leaved ferns, grasses, or delicate woodland plants, allowing the contrast in leaf scale to provide much of the planting’s visual interest.
