[ritamax]

Do you have experience with Fatsia japonica? Does it need a lot of water? I saw this one last week in Huerto del Cura garden in Elche, pretty winter flowering.

[MikeHardman]

I have grown it in England. It may even have been the first plant I grew in my own (as opposed to Mum & Dad's) garden. I stuck a pruning in a big tub of water and in due course was amazed at how well it rooted in there. Subsequently, it followed me from garden to garden until I moved to Cyprus. In England, I used to find the frost wrecked the flowers, but the stems and leaves were quite cold-tolerant (leaves could get 'burned' at tips/edges).

[pamela]

Hello Rita
To help you,   I grow both Schefflera actinophylla and Fatsia japonica here in the northern Costa Blanca.  I would say however in my opinion that they both need shade.  Mine are very successful and thriving under huge mature Pinus halepensis......  

[David Bracey]

I do not think I can remember Fatsia growing in the Med Basin.  It really does best in a temperate climate.

[ritamax]

Thanks for the informations! In Elche they had these beautiful Fatsia shrubs in dappled shade under the palm trees.