Japanese Paper Plant (Fatsia japonica)

Japanese aralia is a tropical plant that makes a bold statement in the garden, in outdoor containers or as a houseplant. Find out about fatsia growing conditions and care requirements in this article.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Fatsia japonica, also fatsi, paper plant, false castor oil plant, or Japanese aralia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to southern Japan and southern Korea.

Common name	Big-leaf paper plant, Figleaf Palm, Formosa rice tree, Glossy-Leaved Paper Plant, Japanese Aralia, Japanese Fatsia, Paper Plant
Botanical name	Fatsia japonica
Family	Araliaceae
Species	japonica
Origin	Korea, Japan
Life cycle	Woody
Plant type	Houseplant
Hardiness zone	7, 8, 9, 10
Sunlight	Deep shade
Maintenance	Low
Soil condition	Clay
Soil ph	Acid
Drainage	Well-Drained
Spacing	3 ft. – 6 ft.
Harvest time	Winter
Flowering period	Fall
Height	6 ft. – 19 ft. 6 in.
Width	6 ft. – 19 ft. 6 in.
Flower color	Cream, Tan
Leaf color	Green
Fruit color	Black
Fruit type	Berry
Fruit benefit	Showy
Leaf benefit	Good Cut
Uses	Container

The common name for this plant may have come from a small experiment about detecting pests and diseases. If you put a piece of white paper under the leaves and tap the leaves, you need to pay attention to the pest control of the surroundings when you happen to find some pests on the paper. Hence, it is called Paper plant maybe because of that.

The name fatsia is a derivation of the Japanese word for ‘eight’ or also called “hachi” in modern romanization referring to the eight lobed leaves.

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1–5 m (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) tall, with stout, sparsely branched stems. The leaves are spirally-arranged, large, 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) in width and on a petiole up to 50 cm (20 in) long, leathery, palmately lobed, with 7–9 broad lobes, divided to half or two-thirds of the way to the base of the leaf; the lobes are edged with coarse, blunt teeth. The flowers are small, white, borne in dense terminal compound umbels in late autumn or early winter, followed by small black fruit in spring.

It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions where winters do not fall below about −15 °C (5 °F). F. japonica thrives in semi-shade to full-shade and is winter hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. It can be grown as an indoor plant and has been shown to effectively remove gaseous formaldehyde from indoor air.

This plant and its cultivar F. japonica ‘Variegata’ have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

An ornamental plant, F. japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ (or ‘Spider White’) is a rare cultivar with variegated leaves. Slower growing than the original species, it reaches a lower maximum height of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at maturity. The dark-green leaves are strongly white-flecked, particularly at the edges, though the white variegation may occasionally disperse across the whole leaf. The variegation may change with the seasons and as the plant ages. Terminal clumps of white flowers emerge in autumn, which are followed by black berries.

While grown as a landscaping plant, it has also become naturalized in some areas. In New Zealand, it has become established in waste areas and abandoned gardens, spreading by suckers and prolific self seeding.

II. Japanese Aralia Varieties

There are several varieties of Japanese aralia that enjoy popular favor as houseplants. They include:

• Anneise: Characterized by its vibrant colors, this varietal boasts rich emerald leaves spotted with sunny yellow.
• Moseri: Instead of tiny white flowers, the Moseri varietal has large blooms, as well as large black berries. It also flowers during the winter months, showing off it’s flowers from October to January.
• Spiders Web: This varietal gets its name from the unique, web-like speckles and veins that dot its leaves.

III. How to Grow and Care

Japanese aralia boasts large, leathery leaves that can measure a full foot across. Under the right circumstances, mature specimens will produce groups of small white flowers each fall, followed by shiny black berries. Overall, Japanese aralia are fairly easy to care for, and they are popular houseplants due to their hardiness.

Sunlight

The paper plant is a shade-loving plant that thrives in low to moderate light conditions. In its natural habitat, it is often found under the canopy of trees, which means it’s adapted to grow in relatively low-light environments.

Your houseplant prefers dappled or filtered light, making it an excellent choice for areas with limited direct sunlight. It can be grown in areas that receive only indirect or partial sunlight.

This plant is well-suited for indoor growing, where it can be placed near windows with sheer curtains or in rooms with bright, indirect light.

Avoid placing the Japanese aralia in intense direct sunlight that can scorch its leaves. When cultivating your plant in the garden, it’s best to plant it in areas with partial to full shade.

It can tolerate some morning sun or dappled sunlight but should be protected from the harsh afternoon sun.

Excessive indoor exposure to direct sunlight can lead to leaf discoloration and damage, such as brown spots or sunburn on the leaves.

Temperature and Humidity

The Japanese aralia plant prefers cooler temperatures, doing best in rooms that are kept to a temperate 60–70 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not necessitate any additional forms of humidity to thrive within your home but should be kept away from particularly strong or cold drafts.

Watering

Strike a healthy balance of slightly moist soil to keep your Japanese aralia in peak health by watering it regularly during active periods of growth. But, beginning in autumn and continuing through the winter season, watering. If you keep the soil too wet, Fatsia Japonica may suffer from fungal root rot disease. Drench the soil completely when watering and allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings periods. Monitor the watering on this indoor plant as it does not like wet soil. The leaves will let you know it’s overwatered through yellowing, dropping leaves.

Soil

The hearty Japanese aralia plant is not too picky when it comes to soil. It prefers moist but well-drained soil (clay, chalk, and loam all work) that is neutral to slightly acidic.

Fertilizing

To give your plant an added boost of nutrients, feed it regularly with a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. Cut fertilizer back to once a month or so in the fall and winter.

Pruning

Because these plants can grow tall, don’t be afraid to prune them back. Fatsia must be pruned yearly to keep its bushy growth habit and glossy foliage. You can cut the entire Fatsia to the ground in late fall and winter too, just before new growth starts. To improve the appearance, trim leaf stems that extend too far beyond the plant.

Propagation

This varietal can be propagated both by seed and stem-tip cutting. It’s unlikely your plant will flower indoors, so you are better off opting for the stem-tip cutting method. To propagate, take a cut of stem from a mature plant early in the growing season and use a rooting hormone for best success. Place in a pot filled with moist soil and cover the pot with a plastic bag. Keep cuttings in a warm, humid place until new growth emerges—it should take root in one to two months.

Potting and Repotting

With the potential mature size of Japanese Aralia in mind, you may want to choose a heavy container such as a ceramic or terra-cotta pot. Otherwise, the top growth may be heavy enough to tip over a plastic pot. When your plant is small, pot it in a container that’s only slightly larger than its root ball, and keep repotting accordingly as the plant grows. With an inordinate amount of potting mix proportionate to root size, the mix may retain too much water and promote root rot.

Choose a prepared potting mix that contains humus or other organic matter, because Fatsia Japonica grows best in a rich medium. Check the potting mix label to see if it contains a slow-release fertilizer. If so, you won’t need to apply any additional fertilizer for the effective duration of the fertilizer contained in the potting mix, which the label will also note.

Pests and Diseases

Like many plants, Japanese aralia is susceptible to a variety of aphids, which are also known as plant lice. These very common pests feed on the leaves of the plant (typically new growth) and can stunt or hinder its ability to prosper. They’re fairly easy to control if caught early enough and can be killed off using a neem oil spray. More notable is the Japanese aralia’s issue with mealybugs, also known as white fuzzy bugs. Characterized by spots on the underside of the leaves that look like small splotches of cotton or powder, mealybugs leach fluids from the stems and leaves of the Japanese aralia, robbing it of the essential nutrients it needs to grow.

Additionally, they excrete a sticky sap-like substance called honeydew onto the foliage, which can make the plant more susceptible to sooty mold. To rid your plant of mealybugs, rub the foliage down periodically with cotton swabs lightly coated with alcohol. For a serious infestation, treat your plant with a neem oil spray.

IV. Uses and Benefits

• Artistic Value

Japanese aralia has won the Garden Excellence Award from the Royal Horticultural Association.

• Environmental Protection Value

It has strong resistance to sulfur dioxide, and can absorb harmful gasses and purify air.

• Garden Use

The paper plant is commonly grown for contrast in shade gardens, in mass, or as a specimen plant. It is prized for its resistance to challenges such as shade, pollution, salt, and drought, and may be planted in containers and on patios. Plants such as Hellebores, Hostas, and Solomon’s seal are great companion plants to the paper plant.

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