The Mary Jane aralia (Dizygotheca elegantissima), also known as spider aralia or threadleaf aralia, is grown for its attractive foliage. The long, narrow, dark green leaves with saw-tooth edges are coppery colored at first, but as they mature they turn dark green, appearing almost black on some plants. Bright light causes dark, blackish-green color on mature leaves. False aralia is usually purchased as a tabletop plant, but with proper care, it can grow 5 to 6 feet tall over a period of several years. Mary Jane aralia is native to New Caledonia. The lower foliage bear a strong resemblance to marijuana, but the plants are not related. Although you can grow them outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they are grown as houseplants in most parts of the country. Place the Mary Jane aralia houseplant near a sunny window where it will receive bright to moderate light, but where the sun’s rays never fall directly on the plant. Direct sun can cause the leaf tips and edges to turn brown.
