Eight Fingers

Fatsia japonica

Other names:

Native to Japan and South Korea, Fatsia japonica is great because it keeps its leaves through the winters in Georgia but looks tropical with large leaves. "Fatsi" comes from the japanese word "eight," referring to the eight lobes on the leaves. It produces small white flowers in compound umbels in the late fall or winter, and these turn to blue-black seeds. On my plant, the seeds are ready in early spring around planting time. The seeds grow best planted fresh without drying.

After the seeds are finished, the plant puts out fresh leaves mid-spring, and any older yellowed leaves can be removed. Shade is ideal for this plant, so plant it somewhere protected from the sun, knowing that it can react a height of around 6 feet at full growth.

The seeds take a full month or more to germinate. Be patient and keep the ground moist, and the seeds should eventually sprout.