Ming-family aralias for a bright entry: ‘Fabian’ (Polyscias scutellaria) with round, dark, purple-backed leaves stacked up an upright stem, and the sculptural roble stump form. Warm, steady and out of the draft.
Aralias grow like small trees — a woody stem with leaves held close along its length — and they bring a vertical, almost bonsai quality that rounder houseplants lack. ‘Fabian’ has coin-shaped leaves in deep green with a purple underside; the roble form is sold as a thick stump that has resprouted, which gives it an instantly aged look. Both stay slender enough for an entryway or beside a desk.
They ask for two things Arizona houses don’t automatically provide: steady warmth away from the air-conditioning draft, and even moisture. Get those right and an aralia is a long-lived, low-fuss plant. The rest of the bench is on our Houseplants page.
These are the aralia varieties we commonly carry. Availability changes week to week and season to season, so call (480) 987-3308 or stop in to see what’s on the bench today.
A thick, character-filled stump of Polyscias ‘Roble’ that has resprouted with fresh, ruffled foliage — a ready-made bonsai look. Same care as ‘Fabian’.
‘Fabian’ — round, glossy, dark green leaves with a plum underside, held tightly along an upright woody stem. Slow and tidy; two to three feet indoors. Bright indirect light, warmth, and no drafts.
Looking for one that isn’t listed? Ask — we can usually suggest a close match or tell you when it tends to come around.
The care tag was written somewhere else. This is the Queen Creek version.
Aralias want bright, indirect light: near an east window or set back from a south one. In low light they drop leaves steadily and grow leggy. Avoid direct afternoon sun through west glass, which scorches the leaves in summer. Rotate the pot a quarter turn every couple of weeks so the stem grows straight.
Water when the top inch of mix is dry and don’t let the root ball dry out completely; a drought costs leaves. Every five to seven days in summer indoors, every ten days or so in winter. Use a well-draining mix and a pot with a hole so the roots never sit in water, which rots them just as fast. Flush occasionally to clear hard-water salts.
Feed a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength monthly from March through October. Prune the tips in spring to keep the plant full and to shape it — they take pruning well. Spider mites, scale and mealybugs turn up in dry air; check the stems and leaf undersides monthly and treat with insecticidal soap.
Aralias drop leaves when they are cold or in a draft, and they recover slowly. Keep them above 60°F, away from air-conditioning and heater vents, and away from exterior doors in winter. If a plant sheds after being moved, don’t move it again — give it a few weeks in a warm, stable spot.
Our 15–25 percent indoor humidity is on the low side for aralias. Group them with other plants, stand the pot on a pebble tray, or give them a bathroom or kitchen window. Brown leaf tips are the dry-air signal; the summer monsoon months are when they look their best.
Aralias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Outdoors, a covered patio in bright shade in spring and fall only; they resent wind, direct sun and any cold night, so most stay indoors here year-round.
Yellowing, spots, no new growth — snap a photo of the plant and its window and we’ll diagnose it at the bench. Advice is free.
We stock indoor potting mix, orchid bark and perlite for the chunky blends aroids and epiphytes want, balanced houseplant fertilizers, insecticidal soap and neem for the usual mealybug and mite visits, and moss poles, hoops and saucers. The pottery yard has terracotta, glazed and lightweight pots from 4-inch up, plus hanging baskets and cache pots.
Cold, drafts or a move. Aralias shed when the temperature drops, when a vent blows on them, or after being relocated. Put it in a warm, still, bright spot and leave it there; it stops shedding within a few weeks.
Bright indirect light — near an east window or a few feet from a south one. Too little light causes steady leaf drop; direct afternoon sun scorches.
When the top inch of mix is dry, about every five to seven days in summer indoors and every ten days in winter. Keep it evenly moist, never soggy and never bone dry.
It is mildly toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Keep it out of reach or choose a pet-safe plant like a parlor palm.
Yes. Aralias take pruning well; cut stems back in spring to shape the plant and encourage branching. The roble stump form is essentially a pruned plant already.
Only on a sheltered, shaded patio in the mild months. Wind, direct sun and cold nights all cause leaf drop, so treat it as an indoor plant.
Aralia live on the houseplant bench; any staff member can point you to them. Locally owned, and a short drive from San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa.