Q: I need information on fatshedera. Would it be hardy in Savannah?

A: Fatshedera is a fascinating plant. It is a cross between fatsia, a big-leafed tropical, and a form of English ivy called Irish ivy. The original plant was discovered in France in 1910. The shiny leaves and coarse texture make it an eye-catching addition to a landscape. I feel sure it will be hardy in Savannah. My friend Newton Hogg has tended a sprawling patch of fatshedra in Decatur for forty years. He says prolonged severe cold will damage new growth but his plants have never been killed outright.