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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Fatsia japonica

Japanese Aralia

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.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late fall to early winter

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)