Fatsia plants
Fatsia are excellent evergreen foliage plants best known for their large, palmate, deeply lobed, glossy leaves of about 30cm (1 foot) wide, reaching up and outward. Commonly known as Japanese Aralia, it has a distinctive, tropical appearance which is equally as effective in a sheltered spot in the border, an outdoor container on the patio or used as a house plant to breathe life into your home. Fatsia produces small pure white spherical flowers in terminal clusters in late autumn, usually from October to November, followed by shiny black berries which provide a feast for birds. It forms a handsome medium sized open shrub of around 3-4 metres tall and wide, perfect for adding architectural flare to a patio, courtyard, cottage gardens or low maintenance border, growing best in a warm environment with partial or dappled shade. Native to Japan and Korea, it combines particularly well with bamboos and grasses or as a focal point in a shady corner of the garden. Fatsia japonica is the plain green-leaved variety whilst Fatsia japonica Spiders Web has leathery, glossy, deeply-lobed leaves speckled with creamy white.