Fatsia japonica - Castor Oil Plant

Planting Advice:

• Shrub roots generally tend to spread out rather than down, so dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the shrub you're planting and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill one the shrub is in place.
• We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through.
• Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain.
• Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
• Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker.
• Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot.
• Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling).
• Firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball.
• Water well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.

 Aftercare Advice:

• Best in shade where it will bring an almost tropical look to beds and borders.
• Not fussy with soil type and in fact is happiest in heavy clay.
• Protect plants from cold, drying winds.
• Older leaves may turn yellow and then brown - just trim them off leaving a 1' stub which quickly falls off.
• Leaves will blacken in extreme cold (-4°C or below) but miraculously the plant will quickly recover as the temperature rises - any damaged foliage can then be cut back.
• Prune lightly in mid to late spring, trimming back any shoots that spoil its shape.