Ming Aralia in nursery pot

Relish the beauty and calm of a small forest indoors with our slim, upright and remarkably leafy Ming Tree. Each of its vertical branches is smothered from top to bottom in Fern-like, heavily serrated green leaves. The delicate foliage conveys a sense of lightness that makes this unusual houseplant just the thing for a partly sunny room. Shipped in a nursery pot.

Our houseplants appear generously sized in our photos. They are representative of the sizes we ship to you. For information on growing and care, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Ming Aralia (Polyscias fruticosa) may look something like a fine-leaf Japanese maple, but it is an evergreen shrub from tropical India and the Pacific Islands. As such, it requires warmth and humidity and will drop leaves if placed in a cold draft or below 60-degree temperature. Frequent misting keeps foliage in tip-top shape. Repot in a larger container, preferably terracotta, every year or two as your plant grows, unless you wish to keep it small. Ming aralia can reach 6' under ideal conditions. Snipping the tips of branches during spring or summer encourages denser growth.

LIGHT: Bright indirect light is best, although this plant does well with a few hours of direct morning light and can also take a fair amount of shade. Foliage may burn with too much sun or strong afternoon rays.

WATERING: Well-drained soil is a must, and consistent moisture. Water deeply and let soil dry so that it is almost (but not completely) dry to the touch between waterings. Water less in the winter dormant season; never allow the soil to become waterlogged.

FERTILIZER: When plants are in active growth from April through September, use a balanced (18-18-18) houseplant fertilizer monthly, diluted to half strength.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].