Sue's Fatsia flowers (if you could call it that) at any time of the year Nosey - as you say though, bees etc have no interest in it so I would have to guess that it relies on a specific species in the wild for pollination.

You're looking very cheerful NP! Thanks for sharing pic :-)
(Dunno about Fatsia, though)

Plants are longday flowering or short day, although hybrids have been raised to give all the year round flowering, for example Chrysanthemums. As you say many come from abroad, or have been brought in many years ago.
I agree about the bears Leigh, our tortoise has just gone to sleep till April, I might join him Lol.

Hi Nosey, I agree and think it's because they come from a slightly warmer region where late season insects are still prevalent. Ivy (Hedera) which is related flowers late in the season too of course so it also may be inherent in many members of this family (Araliaceae).

That's an interesting question NP, I always assumed (wrongly?) that they just flowered periodically from spring to frost? I have 2 one was really pretty until the frost got to the flowers a few weeks ago. Next year I will pay a bit more attention to it.

thank you so much a most interesting array of answers lol