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Key characteristics

Family: Araliaceae
Height: 5 to 6 feet
Width: 5 to 6 feet
Flower color: White flowers in spherical clusters
Foliage color: Large, glossy green leaves with irregular white variegation
Bloom time: Fall to early winter
Light: Partial to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; prune for shape or size as needed
Growing zone: USDA Zones 7 to 10
Wildlife: Pollinators like bees and butterflies; flowers may also attract birds

Shrubs

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

Spider's Web Japanese Aralia

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' is a unique evergreen shrub known for its dramatic variegated foliage. Its large, palmate leaves are splashed with white, creating a speckled effect reminiscent of a spider's web. This intricate pattern adds a touch of elegance and brightens shaded areas. In late autumn to early winter, the plant produces clusters of small, creamy white flowers held on tall stems, which are followed by ornamental black berries that attract birds.

Light

Partial to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

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 white-speckled leaves can appear silver from a distance, making ‘Spider’s Web’ especially effective for illuminating deeply shaded corners. Position it against a dark wall where the intricate variegation becomes more pronounced and the dramatic leaf shapes remain clearly defined.