Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Fatsia

Fatsia

Fatschedera lizii ( Tree Ivy )
The hybrid between Fatsia japonica and related vining Hedera helix ( English Ivy ). A vigorous multi stemmed shrub that can reach a maximum size of 10 x 20 feet though usually half that. Some growth records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 4 feet; 3 years - 5 feet, 10 years - 10 x 13 feet; largest in North Carolina - 6.5 feet.
The evergreen deeply 3 - 5 lobed hand-shaped leaves are up to 8 x 8 inches or rarely to 13 x 12 inches in size. The leathery foliage is glossy bright green, later turning to dark green. The tiny, greenish-white flowers appear in small 1 inch heads which are part of a larger cluster up to 12 inches across, during autumn. They are not very showy and are often removed as they attract bees. The flowers are not exceptionally showy and are often removed. >Hardy zones 7 to 11; it can be killed to ground at slightly below 0 F but will resprout rapidly. Prefers moist, well drained soil in partial to full shade and is tolerant of deep shade as well as pollution and coastal conditions. Pinching the tips of the shoots will encourage it to remain compact rather than grow leggy. Tree Ivy should also be protected from winter winds in zone 7. It must be grown from cuttings since the flowers are sterile and do not produce seeds. It is very tough surviving indoors and is sometimes grown as a house plant. It does not produce seed and must be reproduced from semi-ripe cuttings in summer. It is also an excellent house plant for cool dark locations.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


'Annemieke'
Foliage is blotched bright yellow in the center.

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
* photos taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC


'Marbled'
The deeply-lobed, glossy foliage is blotched light green and cream.
The leaves are borne on red stems.
It is otherwise similar to the species.

'Medio-Picta'
Center of leaves are boldly splashed golden-yellow.

'Variegata'
Cream-edged foliage

'Variegata'
The very attractive gray-green foliage is edged in white.

* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.



Fatsia japonica ( Japanese Fatsia Aralia )
Native of South Korea and Japan; this member of the Aralia family grows fast up to 4 feet per single year and reaching up to 8 feet in its 3rd year and 15 x 15 feet in 15 years. Very old plants may reach 20 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches though in zone 7 due to occasional stem dieback plants rarely exceed 6.5 feet.
The Japanese Fatsia Aralia has large palmate leaves, up to 18 inches across, that are composed of 7 to 11 lobes. The foliage is glossy deep green.
The creamy-white flowers are borne on large rounded flowerheads during mid to late autumn.
They are followed by black berries the following spring.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( zone 6 as a perennial ). It is killed to the ground at -3F but will resprout rapidly in the spring as occured during the winter of 2015 in Columbia, Maryland with a deep mulching of chopped oak leaves. There is no leaf damage on this evergreen down to 10F. Preferring rich moist soil in sun or part shade, it benefits from protection of a south facing will in the coldest winter parts of its range. It is pollution, dry shade ( if watered during first few seasons ) and maritime salt spray tolerant. The Japanese Fatsia Aralia thrives in both acidic and alkaline soils. Very easy to grow, they are not prone to insect pests or disease. They should be installed while small, since older larger plants transplant poorly and are slow to establish.

* photos taken on Feb 2009 @ National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on March 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum




* photo from unknown source on internet

* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* excellent video found on one of my favorite hort youtubes


* photo taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Mar 26 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC


Some additional cultivars include:
'Aurea'
yellow variegation on its leaves.

'Marginata'
grey green deeply lobed leaves with white margins.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


'Mosseri'
more compact but also faster growing with larger leaves.

'Murakumo Nishiki'
Very attractive foliage is very heavily to mostly splashed creamy-yellow ( especially in the center ).

'Spiderweb'
Brilliant white splashing & dotting on leaf; it is otherwise identical to species.

* photo taken on March 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum


* photos taken on Sep 17 2012 in Columbia, MD


'Variegata'
Foliage is green with wide cream-white margins. The foliage may burn in full sun.

* photo taken on Sep 17 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 5 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 24 2014 in Columbia, MD


Fatsia papyrifer ( Rice Paper Plant )
Formerly called Tetrapanax papyrifer; it amounts to being a Fatsia on steroids.
It forms a vigorous, suckering, upright, large shrub or small tree and is native to Taiwan and nearby parts of China. Growing to 15 feet in height or sometimes as much as 30 x 33 feet forming a profusely suckering large clump; it also has massive leaves up to 50 inches across.
The palmate ( up to 11 lobes ) hand shaped leaves are felt covered when young becoming dark green above & white felted beneath. The leaves borne mostly at the stem tips form a dense canopy due to their overlapping. The long leafstalks are up to 3 feet in length. This plant gives a very tropical appearance to any landscape it is grown.
In autumn large panicles up to 36 inches of creamy white flowers open from woolly buds at the stem tips and are followed by purple-black berries.
The bark is light brown on the stems which can be up to 4 inches across.
The Rice Paper Plant can become invasive where its spread is not restricted and it can even shoot suckers as far as 30 feet from the parent plant. Hardy as a woody plant from zones 8 to 11 it can be grown as a perennial in zones 6 and 7 where it can reach up to 12 feet in a single season ( 7 foot growth rate maximum on non die back woody plants ). The Rice Paper Plant requires fertile, light, moist, well drained soil and afternoon shade. It can however tolerant both coastal sands and clay if kept moist or readily has a groundwater supply. In zone 6 it should be mulched in winter to protect the roots. It is less rhizomatous on clay soils.
Remove old flower heads and old stems that have lost their vigor to keep this plant looking attractive.
Propagation is from seed sown during autumn or spring or suckers taken during spring. Flood tolerant but does not tolerate salt.

* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum


* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum







* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* historic archive photo

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA


'Empress'
Even larger leaves up to 60 inches across

'Steroidal Giant'
Vigorous with larger than average leaves.

'Variegata'
cream edged foliage


Fatsia polycarpa ( Taiwan Fatsia )

A branched tree to 27 x 20 ( rarely over 20 ) feet native to the high mountains in Taiwan. It is much faster growing than Fatsia japonica.
The leaves are similar to Fatsia japonica but are larger, very deeply-lobed and dark matt green
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( possibly 7b ).

Nothopanax delavayi ( Delavay False Ginseng )
Also called Metapanax delavayi. An attractive, upright, dense, evergreen shrub related to Japanese Fatsia, reaching up to 17 x 14 feet ( with trunk diameter of 1 foot ). The growth rate up to 2 feet per year.
Unlike Fatsia japonica, it is pinnately-lobed. Though this plant is very tough, the foliage is delicately textured making this plant an excellent choice for softening a harsh concrete or stone wall. The evergreen foliage is glowing coppery-red at first maturing to glossy deep green. The the leaves are up to 6 x 5 inches and the leaflets are up to 5 x 0.3 inches. The leafstalks are up to 5.5 inches long.
The small gray-white flowers are borne in large panicles during mid to late summer.
They are followed by attractive displays of glossy black berries.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 tolerating -3 F with no damage. Prefers deep, light, fertile, moist soils in sun or shade for best growth but isn't terribly fussy either. It thrives in both the east and the Pacific Northwest. Propagation is also easy from ripened ( black ) fruits only. Unripened seed will not germinate. Pre treatment is not necessary.

* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.




* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.




* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

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