Photo credit to Lauren Keller

Polyscias Fruticosa

Araliaceae Family

Also known as Ming Aralia

Polyscias fruticosa, or Ming aralia, is a perennial plant, dicot evergreen shrub or dwarf tree native to India.

This plant is a

shrub

Dry

Soaked

Aralia's love moist soil in a very humid environment. Completely soak the soil between waterings but don't leave the plant in standing water.

Shade

Direct

Aralia's strive in bright, indirect light 🙄. Mine does well in an east facing window.

Starved

Full

Feed this plant monthly during the growing season.

Native to the tropics of India and Polynesia, Ming aralia is an interesting and exotic houseplant that is technically an evergreen shrub. While it is a bit more temperamental to grow than your average plant, it's well worth the effort for its fluffy, bright green foliage. Its ferny, feathery leaves droop from graceful narrow branches that grow straight up, forming a many-layered, complex plant. Ming aralia grows slowly just like false aralia but can eventually reach over 6 feet in height with the proper care. While it can be considered an outdoor ornamental shrub in USDA hardiness zones 11 and 12, it's most commonly cared for indoors, where it can be planted and grown year-round. This plant is mildly toxic to humans and pets. It contains saponic glycosides that can cause digestive upset and skin inflammation.