Lynn!

Greg the photo of the variegated Fatsia is beautiful. A show stopper.

valleylynn said:I don't say it enough, a great big thank you to those that ID our plants. You have a true gift.

Here here!

Thanks Lynn - wish it were mine, it has looked so familiar to me and I was too lazy to figure out what it is, so glad for this forum

Me too Greg.

Janet, Pia's plant looks as if it relishes the cold. I think you should ask her about the micro climate of the spot where it is growing.
Agree that this forum is not clinical in its approach like other ID forums.
Regards,
Arif.

Hi Arif, it can take a lot of frost without any dieback. The winter 2010/11 was exceptionally cold with temperatures down to -17C at least, it didn't rise above freezing for 7 weeks! I had to cut a lot of mine back, it's happy where it is in a semi-shady spot.

Pia is in the south of the country which might be a little warmer which could help to get flowers, I'm further north which is not a lot colder but small differences can make all the difference.

Janet, yes small differences can make a huge difference. I thought maybe Pia's may have a exhaust steam vent near it but you know the terrain better. Beautiful flower though.
Regards,
Arif.

Coming very late to the discussion, what said to me "not Allium" was the "unsegmented" ovary and the number of petals.

Alliums always have very defined (even when the flower is young), three segmented ovaries. All members of the genus have six petals (tepals).

Great information Rick.

We grew Fatsia japonica for decades in So. Cal and elsewhere as a houseplant. I didn't realize they were so cold hardy. That's useful information to know. It appears they can be planted outdoors in my current zone.

My zone is borderline for F. japonica, but I've rarely let that stop me from zone-pushing something I really want. Just like my colocasias, musas, dinnerplate dahlias, and cannas. Sometimes I put mulch over them in preparation for winter and sometimes not. They just seem to carry on fine whatever I do. I suspect that may be the case with this plant. But I'll situate it in a micro-climate to be on the safe side. Up against the brick of the house should provide a bit of extra warmth and do the trick just fine.

Tee japonica points towards Japan and Japan is not a hot, arid desert. Japan is cold in winter, maybe colder then Tennessee. That is why Pia's plant relishes and blooms when it snows. Go check see.
Regards,
Arif.

This plant likes to be in shade or at least semi-shade. If you have somewhere against your house which is reasonably shady that should help it. We often don't get warm enough weather to encourage flowers, I think in our record hot year 2006 I got some before the frost killed them and perhaps one other mild year. Flowers are produced late in the season, we usually get frosts around the end of October to beginning of November when it comes into flower.

Arif, http://www.floridata.com/ref/f...

Yes, part shade against the house on the east side would be a good location, I think. Maybe also under the deck.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-10. Zone 7 as well if planted in a protected area with well mulched roots to protect from freezes.
Tee, when I try to explain heat of decomposition, straw and mulch why do you all have such difficulty in understanding the concept? Not pointing to you. Any way, even your own site is saying the same thing.
Regards,
Arif.

No problem understanding about mulch, Arif.

I am zone 7a and that's what I said.

struggling with a plant that is out of its natural zone can be a challenge - and if there are so many other plants to choose from - I personally go with what's easier and then go crazy within those species, and cultivars But then I probably miss out on some lovely plants, guess I'll have to enjoy them in some of my neighbor's yards who want this type of plant challenge I take walks everyday around my neighborhood to enjoy other's gardens (I live a block away from Seattle University which has very well known and gorgeous landscaping!)
Cheers