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Exotic winter bloomer
Posted by: Adam Pasco, 03 December 2007, 11.41AM
What a surprise it is when the Japanese aralia bursts into bloom in December. Quite why anything should naturally be programmed to flower at this time of year always puzzles me, but perhaps this native of Japan and South Korea is just confused by our seasons.
Any late-flying insects in the garden aren't complaining though. When the sun shone last weekend these white globes of bloom attracted insects from far and wide. I can't say the most desirable insects were among them (in fact there were mainly flies), but in the past I've seen wasps and tortoiseshell butterflies eagerly making the most of this final feed of nectar before hibernating.
Fatsia japonica is an exotic looking evergreen shrub with large glossy, lobed leaves. Despite its tropical looks it's pretty hardy, and tolerates shade well, too. This shrub is an ideal choice to form the permanent framework for an exotic garden, something I know many people now try to develop. My own garden is more traditional, with lots of perennials providing the lushness and softer colours we prefer.
However, as with so many plants, I just had to buy one fatsia and find a home for it, so it's rather crammed into an 'oddments' corner alongside Sophora 'Sun King', Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' and Photinia 'Palette'. I can't say the blend is particularly sympathetic, but then not everything in the garden needs to be carefully planned, does it? Surely I'm not an exception here. Doesn't everyone just cram things in where they have a space from time to time? At the end of the day, the plant collector in me always wins over the designer, even if it means trying to find a suitable spot for something possibly better left on the garden centre bench.
Well, my fatsia may look a little out of place, but I can't see the insects complaining. And the exotic blooms are wonderful, especially in December!
Comments
fatsia japonica
04 November 2007, 09.16PM
vlaks
07 December 2007, 04.06PM
14 December 2007, 01.24PM
paul;from stockport, N.west
01 January 2007, 12.00AM
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