Polyscias fruticosa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-ISS-see-as froo-tih-KOH-suh
- Description
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Ming Aralia is an evergreen shrub or short tree that is erect and upright and grows up to 26' tall in its native habitat. In NC it is grown as a house plant. It needs bright indirect light, warm air temperatures, and medium to high humidity. It can be grown in a variety of soil types providing it receives good drainage. It will perform best in soil that is not too wet or dry. Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry before watering. Misting between watering will help to raise the humidity. This plant is prized for its oriental look, the fern-like foliage of this tree makes it an excellent specimen for interiorscapes, but large plants are very expensive.
This plant typically does not flower or produce fruit when grown in the home.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are tripennate
- Leaflets are irregularly lobed and serrate
- Finely cut foliage
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Elegans'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Elegans'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polyscias
- Species:
- fruticosa
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Malesia to South West Pacific
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Young leaves and shoots can be cooked as a vegetable and flavoring.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 26 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are in small umbels, and green-white in color. Inflorescence is a panicle up to 6". Flowers can bloom all year round.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 1-3 pinnately compound up to 1.5'. Leaflets are linear-lanceolate, narrow-ovate or oblong. Apices are acute, toothed, lobed, or irregularly pinnatisect. The leaves are dark green and are clustered near the tips of branches.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- Fairly smooth medium brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are smooth, flexible and reddish-brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
