Fatshedera lizei

English name: Tree ivy

Latin Name: x Fatshedera lizei

Family: Aralia- Araliaceae

Origin: Under cultivation at the Palm House

The x Fatshedera lizei or tree ivy was created in France in 1912, a cross between Moser’s Japanese fatsia (fatsia japonica ‘Moserii’) and the common ivy (Hedera helix). The species’ name is a combination of the names of the parent plants. The tree ivy owes its bushy habit to the fastsia, and its five-lobed leaves to the common ivy. It grows up to 1.2 metres tall, after which its slender stems begin to droop under the weight of their leaves. Tree ivy cannot climb independently, on natural supports. The leaf blades grow to between 7 and 25 cm. long, and the petioles from 5 to 20 cm. long. The flowers are 4 to 6 mm. in diameter, whitish yellow and appear in the late autumn or early winter, clustered in thick inflorescences. The flowers are sterile and do not produce seeds. The tree ivy is grown as a potted plant and also in gardens where outside temperatures do not fall below -15°C.