Whats this one please?

Several of these grow in one of our local parks. This pic was taken a couple of days ago.

The plant is about 6ft tall. Its in a fairly shady area on the northern edge of the park, between it and the best sunshine there are loads of very mature deciduous trees so I guess its a shade lover.

 

Looks like Fatsia japonica clueless

 

Fatsia Japonica

 

Snap, you win Aesculus.

 

Yes I would agree Fatsia japonica.

Dave

 

as to your question about shade, I find that they do like filtered sunlight best as they can get a bit "bleached"? or it might just be me not caring for them enough

 

Thanks chaps. Looks like I may have found a candidate for a very shade spot I have to fill.

Interestingly, having googled it since you lot ID'ed it for me, it says it is not always hardy in the UK, and that it can be damaged by easterly winds. Seems to be thriving in the park, half a mile from my house, and in a very exposed position.

I reckon one of these fatsias and a few hostas together should nicely fill the shady spot I have to fill.

 

I've seen them take snow before, if they get really bad then they will just completely flop and go black the leaves will drop off and then within a couple of weeks you begin to see new leaves appear from the stem tips

 

I've had girlfriends like that.

 

Tough as old boots. There's one in a garden I look after which was huge, probably eight feet tall, growing in a walled garden next to the house. It was more like a palm with thick stems and leaves at the top. Then the deer and rabbits decided to have a go at it and it looked a sorry sight.

I cut it down to the ground last spring and within a short time, new leaves developed and it's flourishing.

BTW Clueless, Fatshedera is probably even better in a shady setting as it's a combination of Fatsia and ivy.