Polyscias fruticosa
Ming aralia, Polyscias fruticosa, is a broadleaf evergreen in the Araliaceae family, which also includes English ivy and ginseng.
It is suited to outdoor placements in Zones 11 to 12 and houseplant cultivation elsewhere.
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In its native tropical habitat of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, the plants soar to 25 feet tall, but indoors, full-size specimens top out at about six to eight feet with a spread of two to three feet. There are also dwarf varieties available.
Large or small, the fine features of the species are an elegant and awe-inspiring addition to any growing environment.
This guide discusses all you need to know to grow ming aralia indoors. Here’s what we’ll cover:
What You’ll Learn
Ming aralia produces dense layers of deeply serrated, lance-shaped leaves and multiple upright stems that do not branch laterally, instead they all point upwards.
In its natural habitat, clusters of muted yellow or white blossoms appear in the spring, followed by purple berry-like drupes. When grown as houseplants they seldom flower or set fruit.
Quick Look
Common name(s): Ming aralia, Ming tree, Chinese aralia, parsley panax
Plant type: Broadleaf evergreen shrub or tree
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 11-12 (outdoors)
Native to: South and Southeast Asia, western Pacific
Bloom time / season: Summer in tropical climates
Exposure: Bright, indirect sunlight
Soil type: Organically rich sandy loam, well-draining
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5, slightly acidic to neutral
Growth rate: Slow
Mature size: 2-8 feet tall (indoors), up to 25 feet tall outdoors, 1-4 feet wide
Best uses: Houseplant, specimen, bonsai
Taxonomy
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Polyscias
Species: Fruticosa
The species has a long history of use in traditional remedies for various ailments ranging from inflammation to neurological complaints. Note that the plant contains toxins including saponin glycosides that can cause gastric distress in humans and animals.
During the Victorian era, plant hunters carried many specimens back from Africa, South and Southwest Asia, and the South Pacific.
In Asian culture, “Ming” harks to the Ming Dynasty of the 14th and 15th centuries and means “bright.” Ming aralia is a symbol of good fortune.
Today’s growers with conducive climates cultivate ming aralia hedges and trees, while those indoors enjoy potted trees on a more modest scale as well as training them as bonsai.
How to Grow
Ming aralia does best with indoor temperatures of 70 to 85°F and humidity of 50 percent or higher. Avoid exposure to temperatures lower than 60°F.
Make sure you choose a pot that has one or more drainage holes in the bottom to allow water to drain freely.
Provide an organically-rich, moisture-retentive, well-draining potting medium.
Choose a location in your home with bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sun locations as the harsh rays may burn the foliage.
Allow the soil to almost dry out in between waterings. Water deeply until the liquid drains out of the bottom of the pot.
In the fall and winter, you’ll water less frequently as growth slows.
Ming aralia requires little supplemental nutrition when grown in an organically-rich medium.
In the spring and summer, you can use a liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month – dilute it to a quarter of the recommended dose to avoid burning tender roots.
Miracle-Gro Tropical Houseplant Food
Miracle-Gro Tropical Houseplant Food is ideal as it’s mild, with an NPK ratio of 1-0.5-1.
Tropical Houseplant Food is available from Miracle-Gro via Amazon.
Discontinue feeding during the fall and winter.
Cultivars to Select
When shopping you’ll often come across plants listed as ming aralia “stump.”
This refers to specimens that have been propagated from a woody base and pruned to maintain a compact form.
You can find the species plant available from Thirsty Leaves via Walmart.
Elegans
‘Elegans,’ aka parsley aralia, is a dwarf cultivar with foliage that displays exceptionally delicate serration and curling, like parsley leaves.
Mature dimensions are two to five feet tall with a spread of one to four feet. This cultivated variety is an excellent choice for indoor cultivation and as bonsai.
Variegated
Variegated P. fruticosa has bright green leaves with contrasting cream margins.
Variegated ming aralia is available from California Tropicals via Amazon in six-inch containers.
Maintenance
You can tip prune in the spring to promote a more compact appearance by snipping off clusters of new foliage at the terminal ends of the branches.
Additional pruning may be required to remove wayward branches for aesthetics and any foliage damaged by pests or pathogens.
When pruning, always cut just above a leaf node to preserve appearances and encourage regeneration.
Repot every few years to replenish the soil, more often if needed to accommodate growth. You’ll know it’s time to repot when the soil seems to have shrunk, appearing lower and compacted.
Also, you may see roots poking through the drainage hole.
Select a new container with a diameter one size larger than the current one. Water the plant the day before and be sure to set the plant at the same depth as it was in the old vessel.
Propagation
You can propagate ming aralia via hardwood or softwood cuttings.
Here’s how:
Softwood Cuttings
In spring, take a four- to six-inch stem tip cutting from fresh growth, making the cut just below a leaf node. Shorter cuttings work for dwarf or bonsai plants.
If the parent plant looks bare after cutting, trim again just above a node to tidy it up and encourage new growth.
Remove the lower leaves from the bottom inch or two, then dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
Fill a clean four-inch pot with a loose, well-draining mix containing compost or peat with perlite, sand, or vermiculite.
Use a chopstick to make a planting hole, insert the cutting, and firm the soil gently around it.
Water until it drains from the bottom, and place the pot in bright, indirect light.
Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. A moisture meter can help guide you.
Hardwood Cuttings
You can also propagate from hardwood cuttings. In late fall or early spring, cut mature stems into four- to six-inch lengths.
Strip the lower inch or two of leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and insert each into a six-inch pot filled with well-draining potting mix.
For either softwood or hardwood cuttings, covering the pots with clear plastic can create a mini greenhouse to maintain humidity.
Keep the containers out of direct sun and monitor soil moisture closely, remove the cover if condensation builds or the soil becomes soggy.
New leaves are evidence of successful rooting.
Transplanting
Whether you have a rooted cutting or a potted plant purchased from the nursery, transplanting is the same.
Do this in spring, when growth is active, and water the plant the day before to ease removal.
Tropical plants like a snug fit, but not so tight that they become root bound and struggle to absorb water or nutrients.
For containers up to 10 inches wide, choose a pot about two inches larger than the root mass. For larger plants, go two to three inches wider.
Set the plant at the same depth as it was in its previous container. After transplanting, wait to water until the soil is nearly dry.
Pests and Disease
Pest and disease issues can occur when growing tropical species like ming aralia indoors.
Prevention starts with meeting the plant’s cultural needs: appropriate light, soil, moisture, temperature, and humidity.
Pests
Common sap-sucking pests include aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies.
These can cause leaf discoloration, distortion, defoliation, and, in severe cases, stunted growth.
These sapsucking insects can cause leaf disfigurement, discoloration, and defoliation. In severe cases, growth may be stunted.
Aphids, mealybugs, scale, whiteflies, and spider mites can often be rinsed off with a strong spray of water. Follow up with neem oil to control any lingering pests.
Fungus gnats are attracted to consistently moist soil. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults and apply neem oil to the soil to target larvae.
Neem oil is a home gardener’s go-to treatment for many pests and pathogens. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for application.
Bonide® Neem Oil is available from Arbico Organics in quart and gallon ready-to-spray bottles and a pint-sized concentrate.
Disease
Diseases that affect ming aralia are most often the result of excess moisture or poor airflow.
Keeping the foliage dry, watering only at the soil level, and ensuring good air circulation can go a long way toward prevention.
Alternaria
Alternaria leaf spot is a fungal infection caused by Alternaria panax. It appears as small, water-soaked spots near leaf edges or areas of previous damage.
These spots turn tan and then black, often with a yellow halo. Neem oil may help manage early infections.
Anthracnose
Fungal anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, produces semi-transparent tan lesions with yellow margins, similar in appearance to Alternaria.
Copper-based fungicides are the standard treatment.
Pythium Root Rot
Pythium root rot, often caused by Pythium splendens, an oomycete or water mold that attacks the roots. It may first present as yellowing lower leaves.
Neem oil applied as a soil soak may be useful early on.
Learn more about root rot here.
Rhizoctonia Blight
Rhizoctonia aerial blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, results in lesions and a network of fine, web-like fungal mycelium across leaves and stems.
Neem oil may provide control if applied promptly.
Xanthomonas Leaf Spot
Xanthomonas leaf spot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae, is a bacterial condition that creates corky lesions that darken to black with yellow halos. Copper fungicide is generally effective.
Keeping the foliage dry by watering at the soil level goes a long way toward inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, and water molds.
Need some copper fungicide?
Bonide® Copper Fungicide is available from Arbico Organics in a variety of sizes.
Prompt removal of affected foliage, correcting environmental stressors, and using treatments like neem oil or copper fungicide can help contain or eliminate infections.
Because symptoms often resemble one another, it’s wise to consult your local university extension office for accurate diagnosis if you’re unsure.
Tropical Serenity
While pruning and pampering a potted ming aralia, you may find yourself transported to a meditative zen garden where cares seem to drift away on a tropical breeze.
With the right care, ming aralia makes a striking and long-lived addition to any indoor collection. Give it bright, indirect light, humidity above 50 percent, and temperatures between 70 and 85°F.
Do you grow ming aralia? Please share your care tips in the comments section below.
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