Plants should generally be kept from direct exposure to warm or cold air being blown from the indoor unit. Try to place plants out of direct drafts from the indoor unit. The outdoor unit should never have plants or any other material obstructing airflow. At least 1m of space in front and 100mm behind the outdoor unit is required for trouble free operation.
The answer to this question was taken from the Panasonic website.
http://panasonic.com.au/products/faqs/index.cfm?objectID=24
Access Air Conditioning is a preferred installer for Panasonic products as well as Mitsubishi and Harvey Norman. We can also install and service most other makes. If you have a question concerning air conditioning simply contact us and we will be in touch.