Deets: A lovely and easy houseplant to add to your collection. 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 but can eventually reach over 6 feet in height with the proper care.
Name(s): Polyscias fruticosa; Ming aralia
Water: It's important to keep your Ming aralia consistently moist but never saturated. Water the soil deeply and allow it to almost dry out before you water it again—a weekly session should do the trick. Additionally, you can decrease your watering cadence in the winter, watering your plant every other week instead.
Light: Ming aralia likes bright, indirect light and can handle light shade. Allowing the plant to get morning sun is good, but it should never be kept in direct sunlight during the harsher afternoon hours, as the rays can scorch its fragile foliage. Aim for about six to 8 hours of filtered light a day; it's said Ming aralia do especially well in North-facing light.
Toxic: Yes