Ming Tree Polyscias fruticosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aralia fruticosa
- Panax fruticosus
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-ISS-see-as froo-tih-KOH-suh
- Description
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Ming Aralia is a tropical evergreen shrub or short tree that is erect and upright and grows up to 25 tall in its native habitat of Southwest Pacific. In NC it is grown as a houseplant and grows only 6 to 8 feet tall. 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.
Consider the ming aralia as an indoor container plant: however, this plant typically does not flower or produce fruit when grown in the home. It may be used as a tropical plant in USDA Hardiness Zones 11 to 12 as a specimen, accent, or hedge.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are tri-pinnate
- Leaflets are irregularly lobed and serrated
- Finely cut foliage
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor of aphids, scales, mealybugs, whiteflies, and nematodes. In wet or overly moist soils, root rot can occur. Mites can appear in dry conditions.
- 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
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Malesia to Southwest Pacific
- Distribution:
- Bangladesh, Borneo, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, and Vietnam
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Young leaves and shoots can be cooked as a vegetable and flavoring.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 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:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- 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
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits or drupes are rarely seen in cultivation.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are in small umbels and green-white. Inflorescence is a panicle up to 6 inches. Flowers can bloom all year round. Flowers and fruits are rarely seen when cultivated as a houseplant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- 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 inches. 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
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
