Jim has so many "absolute favorites" in his garden. I chuckle every time he says this. 😆 I love that Fatsia. Hope I can find some room somewhere for one in my mostly sunny small Florida yard.
In zone 8B here in the middle of Ireland, I had one as a house plant for 10 years, put it outside 20 years ago because it was becoming to big. In 2010 we had severe weather, got down to minus 20C, I couldn't believe it survived, it's in a sheltered spot, the same year we lost so many plants but not the Fatsia. I came here this evening because I just rescued one from my local Aldi, it was in need of a good watering, I couldn't leave it to die of thirst. Thank you for the info, I am going to keep it as a house plant for now.
My established plant survived 3 days of 0F temperatures and with a frost blanket thrown over it (in a protected location by my foundation) and didn't even lose any leaves two years ago. They look like they are dead when it gets well below freezing as they have an adaptation to flatten their leaves down to the ground to protect them. As soon as it warms up the leaves pop right back up off the ground.
I have two surrounding a bluebird hydrangea. Just beautiful, they are in the Ivy family and their flowers look the same. As you say the Alien like flowers attract every flying insects. Should you trim the flower cluster when they fade or will it break off ? Thank you
Mark Weathington of JCR recommends not fertilizing as it promotes green growth (not variegated growth). I’m in zone 7a/6b and have 2 spiders web planted in two different protected areas. One is planted next to a regular FP, and the regular one is definitively more vigorous. For those starting to zone push, maybe try a regular one first?
Yeah good soil limits the variegation. Nothing I can do about that at this point, but they still look more interesting that the species plants without heavy variegation.
Those flowers ARE FANTASTIC!! I've been seeing the Spiders Web Fatsia in a couple plant stores online, and I really WANT to like it, but, there's just this one thing... And maybe it's just me, but Wait. No. This definitely IS just me since I see it's getting so popular! The problem I have is that I just don't want to wonder if it's got Spider MITES every time I look at it! Bcuz of the way the varigation is spotted I guess, it reminds me of a severe spider mite infestation. Anybody else think that too? Plus, the name! The spotted varigation, along with the name, is another spider mite reminder! Do ya think whoever naming it was thinking about spider mites too? And instead of calling it Spider Mite Fatsia they just gave it the tongue-in-cheek name of Spider's Web !?! Otherwise, I think it's gorgeous! I would love a Fatsia with varigation in my landscape. I even have the perfect spot for one. But I think I'll need a varigation that doesn't make me want to get my magnifying glass out each time I walk by!
