Fatsia Flowers

Characteristics

• Fatsia is considered a shrub or a small tree, usually growing to a maximum height of 6 to 10 feet (though some have been known to reach 15 feet or more) and a maximum width nearly the same. Fatsia prefers a moisture-rich, wet soil and a slightly shady growing area. Under these conditions, expect your fatsia to grow at a rate of 8 to 12 inches per year.

Flowers

• Fatsia flowers grow into huge, dramatic clusters of white or off-white blooms. They take the form of rounded umbels -- groups of flowers that radiate out from a single center. Flowers always appear on the top of the plant above the foliage, and first appear between October and November, lingering on the plants for several weeks. Note, however, that bloom rates and other blooming factors depend on individual soil, climatic and other specific conditions.

Foliage

• Fatsia also is grown as a foliage shrub because of the distinct appearance of its leaves. These leaves are noticeably large, usually ranging in size from 6 to 14 inches wide. The dark green, shiny foliage of the fatsia is often described as having a tropical look. Fatsia foliage has a consistent color, but cultivars have been bred to give leaves a variegated appearance.

Other Considerations

• In its natural state, multiple stems grow from the base of the fatsia plant upward, with new stems produced every successive growing season. But using localized and specialized pruning techniques, you can "train" fatsia to grow as a single trunk with multiple stems branching out near the top of the plant. This, combined with the relatively large growing height of the fatsia, give it a treelike appearance even though it is a large shrub.