About

Aralia cordata Thunb. is a vigorous perennial that can reach heights and widths of up to 2.5 meters. It features broad, pinnate foliage that starts as a golden-green in the spring and transitions to a vibrant green during the summer months. In late summer, clusters of small white flowers appear in expansive umbels measuring up to 45 centimeters in diameter, giving way to inedible purple fruits. This plant tends to spread through suckering.

About the genus

Aralia includes deciduous trees, shrubs, and perennial plants characterized by their sizable, either simple or pinnately compound foliage. The species produce small greenish-white flowers that cluster in large groups at the ends of branches, which eventually give way to small black fruits.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
North-facing, West-facing, East-facing, South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Suckering
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
1.5-2.5 metres
Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Native to
China Japan

Care notes

Cultivation
Grows best in a moist, neutral to acidic soil in partial shade but will tolerate full shade, or full sun if kept watered
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagates readily from suckers or propagate by seed
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility