Fatsia japonica Plant - Japanese False Aralia for Indoors 

The plant: Fatsia japonica - sometimes 'Ornamental Fig' - is basically a large evergreen hardy shrub, which can also be grown indoors as a spectacular houseplant. It has large, palmate leaves with upwards of seven lobes – or fingers. Quite spectacular if well grown with individual leaves growing to 6 or 8 inches (15-20cm) across. The overall leaf has a slightly toothed margin.

To be seen at its best it will need a large pot rather than the small pot in which it has been grown and sold! The size of the pot will be the deciding factor as to its ultimate size.

Outdoors in a shrub area or as a stand-alone specimen, Fatsia japonica will grow to a large spreading shrub with height and spread of 4 feet (1.2m) or more. Indoors it will rarely reach those dimensions – if ever. However it will still be cherished for its light green glossy foliage, and ability to grow in more or less any place that will give it the space it needs.

It rarely flowers as an indoors plant, but if you are lucky, then it will have unusual clusters of flowers held aloft of the foliage during early Autumn. If you do manage to get it into flower indoors, you will probably see the small black berries that follow the flowers. 

Care of Fatsia japonica – Aralia sieboldii

Its needs: The Japanese Fatsia requires strong light even some direct sun. The potting mix should be rich and fertile, well-draining but kept moist. Warmth and normal humidity preferred.

Keep the potting mix moist all year round, but do not allow the Fatsia to become waterlogged. On the other hand, if allowed to dry out too much, the leaves will warn you with their sad drooping appearance. Watering will soon rectify this.