× Fatshedera

× Fatshedera lizei was created by crossing Fatsia japonica 'Moserii' (Moser's Japanese fatsia, the seed parent) and Hedera helix (common ivy, the pollen parent) at the Lizé Frères tree nursery at Nantes in France in 1912. Its generic name is derived from the names of the two parent genera.

Description

The plant combines the shrubby shape of Fatsia with the five-lobed leaves of Hedera. As a shrub, × F. lizei can grow up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall, above which the weight of the fairly weak branches makes them tend to bend over. It can, however, also be tied to a support and grow into a vine up to 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft) tall; unlike Hedera, it does not readily climb without assistance. The leaf blades are 7–25 cm (2.8–9.8 in) long and broad, with a 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) petiole. The flowers are 4–6 mm in diameter, yellowish-white, produced in late autumn or early winter in dense umbels; they are usually sterile and do not produce any fruit. However, specimens have been reported which did produce not only flowers but also clusters of berries, one of which put forth shoots in the pot.