Fatsia japonica is not generally
known for its flowers. It is a rock solid 'hardy exotic': it looks tropical
but it is as hard as nails in our climate. It also seeds itself copiously
around the garden (it is often mistakenly referred to as the 'castor oil
plant'; the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, is quite different
and a member of the Euphorbiaceae). There exist variegated and
'blotched' varieties but they are not to everybody's taste. The species
and the varieties develop the best leaf colour when growing in the shade;
in direct sun the leaves remain a rather unpleasant washed-out yellowy green.
The photograph shows the white 'blotched' variety. Fatsia japonica
belongs to the Araliaceae, the ivy family. This family contains
a large variety of incredibly peculiar, strangely-named and exotic-looking
plants: Aralia, Pseudopanax, Tetrapanax, Dizygotheca
and others. There is probably enough variety and contrast in this single
family to kit out a whole garden with no risk of repetition or visual tedium.
© Maciej Pomian-Srzednicki, 2008
29/09/2008
Telephone 01803 201813
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