Pseudopanax laetus (Five Finger Aralia)
Botanical Information
| Family | Araliaceae |
| Genus | Pseudopanax |
| Species | laetus |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Tree (evergreen), Shrub (evergreen) |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 7 - 9 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H6 - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-17) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | 0 - 30 |
| Height | 3 - 6 m |
| Spread | 3 - 6 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | June, July, August, September |
Description and Growing Information
| Landscape | Specimen plant. |
| Propagation | By seed, semi-hard cuttings or air layering. |
| Cultivation | Full sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. The soil should have a rich organic composition. In terms of reproduction, this species requires that male and female specimens be positioned within range of one another in order to produce fruit on the latter. |
| Notable Specimens | Trengwainton garden, Madron, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
| Habitat | Rounded. |
| Leaf Description | Large, shiny broad leaves on red stalks. Palmately compound with 5 - 7 leaflets exhibiting coarse serration along the margins. Ovate with smaller leaflets concentrated near the base of the petioles. Each leaflet is 15 - 20 cm in length. The petioles which support each individual leaflet are 3 - 5 cm in length. |
| Flower Description | Clusters of purple-green flowers. |
| Fruit Description | A purple-black fruit on female plants. |
Photographs
Pseudopanax laetus, form, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Pseudopanax laetus, leaf, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Pseudopanax laetus, flower. Trengwainton garden, Madron, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 17/10/2019.
Pseudopanax laetus, bark, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.