Fatshedera
Encyclopedia
×Fatshedera lizei is an inter-generic hybrid of flowering plant
s, commonly known as tree ivy or aralia ivy. It was created by hybridizing Fatsia japonica
'Moserii' (Moser's Japanese Fatsia, the seed parent) and Hedera helix
(Common Ivy, the pollen parent) at the Lizé Frères tree nursery at Nantes
in France
in 1912. Its generic name is derived from the names of the two parent genera.
The plant combines the shrub
by shape of Fatsia
with the five-lobed leaves of Hedera
. As a shrub, Fatshedera can grow up to 1.2 m tall, above which the weight of the fairly weak branches makes them tend to bend over. It can however also be tied to a support and grow into a vine
up to 3-4 m tall; unlike Hedera, it does not readily climb without assistance. The leaf
blades are 7-25 cm long and broad, with a 5-20 cm petiole. The flower
s are 4-6 mm diameter, yellowish-white, produced in late autumn or early winter in dense umbel
s; they are sterile
and do not produce any fruit.
However, speciments have been reported, which did produce not only beautiful flowers but also clusters of berries, one of which put forth shoots in the pot.
It is grown both as a garden
plant outdoors, and as a houseplant
indoors, where its tolerance of shady conditions is valued. Inside they will grow well in bright indirect light. Outdoors, it can tolerate winter temperatures down to −15 °C, but can also be grown successfully indoors with temperatures never falling below 20 °C. Several cultivar
s have been selected, with dark green to variously white- or yellow-variegated
leaves.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s, commonly known as tree ivy or aralia ivy. It was created by hybridizing Fatsia japonica
Fatsia japonica
Fatsia japonica is a species of Fatsia, native to southern Japan....
'Moserii' (Moser's Japanese Fatsia, the seed parent) and Hedera helix
Hedera helix
Hedera helix is a species of ivy native to most of Europe and western Asia. It is labeled as an invasive species in a number of areas where it has been introduced.-Description:...
(Common Ivy, the pollen parent) at the Lizé Frères tree nursery at Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1912. Its generic name is derived from the names of the two parent genera.
The plant combines the shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
by shape of Fatsia
Fatsia
Fatsia is a small genus of three species of evergreen shrubs native to southern Japan and Taiwan. They have stout, sparsely branched stems bearing spirally-arranged, large leathery, palmately lobed leaves 20-50 cm in width, on a petiole up to 50 cm long, and small creamy-white flowers in...
with the five-lobed leaves of Hedera
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
. As a shrub, Fatshedera can grow up to 1.2 m tall, above which the weight of the fairly weak branches makes them tend to bend over. It can however also be tied to a support and grow into a vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
up to 3-4 m tall; unlike Hedera, it does not readily climb without assistance. The leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
blades are 7-25 cm long and broad, with a 5-20 cm petiole. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are 4-6 mm diameter, yellowish-white, produced in late autumn or early winter in dense umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
s; they are sterile
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
and do not produce any fruit.
However, speciments have been reported, which did produce not only beautiful flowers but also clusters of berries, one of which put forth shoots in the pot.
It is grown both as a garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
plant outdoors, and as a houseplant
Houseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...
indoors, where its tolerance of shady conditions is valued. Inside they will grow well in bright indirect light. Outdoors, it can tolerate winter temperatures down to −15 °C, but can also be grown successfully indoors with temperatures never falling below 20 °C. Several cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s have been selected, with dark green to variously white- or yellow-variegated
Variegation
Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the leaves, and sometimes the stems, of plants. This may be due to a number of causes...
leaves.