Araliaceae bamboekwekerij Kimmei Valkenswaard

Araliaceae Surely this is one of the most fascinating group of plants that I know. The diversity of forms of the leaves inspired me to collect and test them in my garden. Many are newer introductions and their properties still must be discovered. Some are very hardy, other are more tender and need protection and a sheltered place. A few are only for the greenhouse.. Many can survive the milder winters that we had in Western Europe for the last 13 years but some luck is needed. With the help of a thick layer of mulch the protected part can survive even a cold winter. (see the 5th picture) Than the roots and the lower part of the stem are protected and helps the plant to produce new shoots and leaves. This all reminds me of the time that I started with bamboos 35 years ago. That time most people believed that only a handful of bamboos would be hardy enough to survive outside. Now we know better. The diversity and distribution of the Araliaceae is huge, so there is still a lot to discover. The following species are propagated and will usually be for sale somewhere during the year. Normally only in smal numbers. Brassaiopsis mitis, Brassaiopsis fatsioides, Brassaiopsis aculeata, Brassaiopsis glomerulata CHB16.CH (Dulong), Brassaiopsis hispida, Brassaiopsis hispida 'Birma'', Brassaiopsis aff. hainla (summer), Dendropanax trifidus, Fatsia japonica ‘Moseri’, Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’, Fatsia polycarpa ‘Deeply Cut’, x Fatshedera lizei, Merilliopanax alpinus, Metapanax delavayi, Metapanax delavayi 'Stout', Metapanax davidii, Schefflera delavayi, Schefflera digidata, Schefflera fansipanensis, Schefflera impressa, Schefflera rhododendrifolia, Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Steriodal Giant’ and ‘Rex’. The rest is still in test. Take care of snails and full sun. Most of the pictures were photographed in my garden. The genus Schefflera recently got a new name: Heptapleurum. But this sounds ugly for such beautiful plants. Shipping in the growing season can be difficult. For the price ask.

Aralia echinocaulis flowering (picture left ) Fast growing tree. It flowered in my garden after 3 years Aralia elata ‘Aureovariegata’ (picture right)

Aralia echinocaulis (picture left and right) can become a huge tree. We still don't know the limits of hardyness.

Brassaiopsis mitis (picture left) with a thick layer of mulch the protected its lower stem and roots. In 2027 this plant will be 8 years in my garden. Brassaiopsis mitis (picture right) with the beautiful young leaves that are produced till the plants reaches arround 2 meters high. Available in 5 liter pots (45 euro) Take care of snails.

Brassaiopsis fatsioides (picture left) New in test. Could be a bit more hardy than B. mitis. Brassaiopsis mitis (picture right) The biggest plant was outside in the winter of 2020/2021 and survived -13°C. Here with adult leaves.

Brassaiopsis aculeata (picture left) Tender Brassaiopsis fatsioides (picture right) Resembles B. mitis and is said to be slightly hardier.

Brassaiopsis dumicola (picture left) Probably one of the hardiest Brassaiopsis species we know. In test. Brassaiopsis glomerulata CHB16.CH (Dulong) (picture right) Tender.

Brassaiopsis hispida sp. Birma. (picture left) A weird, slow growing plant. Ornamental but tender. Brassaiopsis hispida (Remko) Darjeeling (picture right) Tender.

Brassaiopsis aff. hainla (picture left) Unknown beautiful species with a leaveform like Br. hainla. (Benjamin) Very ornamental but tender. Brassaiopsis sp. (picture right) (Raf)

Brassaiopsis sp. (picture left) Arunachal Pradesh, Remko. Brassaiopsis sweliensis (picture right) Probably a more hardy species.

Dendropanax trifidus (left) In test outside. This ornamental smal tree is supposed to be hardy till -15°C. Fatsia japonica (right) Common. Hardiness till -15°C. Sometimes even more.

Fatsia japonica ‘Murakumo Nishiki’ (picture left) Fatsia japonica ‘Moseri’ (picture right)

Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’ at (picture left) Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’ (picture right)

Fatsia polycarpa ‘Deeply Cut’ (picture left) This species should be a bit less hardy than Fatsia japonica. In 2025 8 years outsite Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green fingers’ (picture right)

x Fatshedera lizei (picture left) A hybrid between Hedera and Fatsia japonica. Semi climbing. Reasonable hardy. Fatsia polycarpa ‘Megafatsia’ (picture right)

Kalopanax septemlobus ‘Maximowiczii’ (picture left) has deeply lobbed leaves. Kalopanax is hardy. Kalopanax septemlobus (picture right)

Merilliopanax alpinus (picture left) With young shoots. Merilliopanax alpinus (picture right) Very interesting tree with big leaves that could be hardy. In 2026 for 9 years outsite

Metapanax delavayi (picture left) On a protected spot this beautiful small evergreen three can withstand frost till -18°C. In 2026 for 9 years outsite and about 5 meters high. Metapanax delavayi (picture right) The handsome new shoots.

Metapanax delavayi var. Stout (picture left) With broader leaves.In 2025 for 8 years outsite and about 3meters high.Hardiness like M. delavayi. Metapanax davidii (picture left) Handsome smal evergreen tree. Hardiness probably like M, delavayi.

Pentapanax parasiticus (picture left) Oplopanax japonicus (picture right) Hardy shrub from Japan. (died)

Oplopanax horridus (picture left) Curious, very hardy shrub. The small spines are venomous. Take care of snails. Pseudopanax crassifolius (picture right) Erect Aralia from New Zealand with stiff, leathery, long leaves that can withstand frost. In test outside!

Schefflera alpinia BSWJ8247 (picture left) This Schefflera from the mountains of North Vietnam is one of the more hardy species. The leaves are leathery. In 2026 for 6 years outside. A second clone is also in test outside. Schefflera brevipedicellata (picture right) Small early flowering shrub. In test outside!

Schefflera macrophylla (picture left) Can withstand frost till -5°C Schefflera delavayi (picture right) In test outside! The hardiness could be the same as Fatsia japonica.

Schefflera digidata (picture left) Tender but beautiful as a plant in a pot for inside or a frostfree greenhouse. Could withstand frost till -5°C Schefflera rhododendrifolia (picture right) The left leave is from a plant with the name Schefflera rhododendrifolia. The right leaves leaves are from a plant that I have got with the name Schefflera impressa. This could be a synonym for Scheflera glabrata or rhododendrifoila.

Schefflera fansipanensis (picture left) Schefflera rhododendrifolia 'Birma' (picture right) One of the more hardy species. Take care of snails. In test outside!

Schefflera sp. Nova NJM 13.128 (picture left) Nagaland 2700 meters. A more hardy species. Collected by Nick Macer. In test outside! Schefflera sp. Nova NJM 10.086 (picture right). Tay Con Linh Mountain, N. Vietnam 2425 meters. In test outside!

Schefflera hoi fansipanensis x taiwaniana (picture left) Survived -13°C. without damage on the same place were Schefflera taiwaniana died. Schefflera taiwaniana (seedling Vert'ige) (picture right) Ornamental species that can withstand frost. In test outside!

Schefflera aff. fengii (picture left) Schefflera sp. AMV22V132 (picture right)

Schefflera sp. Chapana seedling (picture left) In test outside. Schefflera sweliensis (picture right) Supposed to be a more hardy species. In test outside.

Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Steriodal Giant’ (picture left) This small three with giant leaves has adapted well to our climate, with the help of mild winters. Between -12°C and -15°C it freezes back but usually it comes back from the roots. This form has leaves that are deeper incised than ‘Rex’. It survived 12 not to cold winters outside in a row. Available in 5 liter pots (25 euro) Protect when it is still young. In 2025 for 12 years outsite Tetrapanax papyrifera ‘Rex’ (picture right) The big leaves are more round. with the same features as. Available in 5 liter pots (25 euro)
January 2020 we made a tri[p to Darjeeling. On our way up to the snow in Tonglu we saw many different Brassaiopsis and Schefflera. Here are some pictures.

Brassaiopsis (picture left) in the zoo mislabeled as Brassaiopsis mitis. Brassaiopsis hispida along the road on the way up to Tonglu near Simana

Brassaiopsis mitis (picture left) along the road on the way up to Tonglu.

Brassaiopsis on the way up to Tonglu. In Tonglu our jeep was stopped by the snow. (picture left)