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Fatsia japonica damage who's the culprit?

Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123
in Plants

I planted a Fatsia japonica for a client a few months ago and all that remains is a stalk. It's been completely stripped of leaves and the growing point nibbled off. Has anyone else seen this? I personally didn't think it was attractive to anything. 

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Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,036

    Rabbits are not supposed to eat Fatsia. Neither are deer. BUT they will eat them if sufficiently hungry.

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Must be starving then, a 4ft plant stripped bare. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,221

    Jeez Dave - never heard of anything stripping a Fatsia. I'd have suggested deer too, because of the amount of damage they can do quickly, but you'd think there would be other, tastier specimens for them to eat before they'd take that.

    Is anything else damaged or eaten?

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • alison.boylandalison.boyland Posts: 1

    Ihave something stripping all the leaves off three expensive fatsias and they havnt even eaten the leaves ,just stripped one down to a bare stalk. Im trying to save the other two by putting dog poo and obstacles all around so far its working but I am gutted as I love them and hence bought three! Any other ideas welcome. I think I have a resident badger could he/she be guilty?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,740

    Any deer in your area?  I know they're not supposed to like fatsia, but they don't read the books ... 

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,036

    Badgers do not normally eat  leaves. They are omnivores, but usually go for bulbs rather than leaves.

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 5,985

    Is it next to afield with a horse in it? Friends of ours have been suffering all sorts of damage this way. The horse just leans over the fence & chews anything it can reach.

    AB Still learning

  • dan.coupardan.coupar Posts: 1
    Just to say: this exact same thing has happened to us this morning. Our young Fatsia has been completely stripped of its leaves. Rabbit droppings at the scene of the crime! The little bugger has also demolished two Hebes.
  • otterear-86hJGLVotterear-86hJGLV Posts: 5
    I have the same issue. I believe either deer or  rabbits have eaten the leaves and left the stem. I have 3 fatsias (spider) growing in the same area and only one have been attacked. So, I wised up and placed fencing around it. Will new leaves come from the stems? or should I cut the stems off? It still has a top that looks like new leaves will be coming.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 20,942
    Could it be the cold that made the leaves drop off?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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