Aralia (Araliaceae)
Aralia is an interesting genus of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. There are over 70 species with worldwide distribution. The family araliaceae encompasses such plants as ginseng, sarsaparilla and eluthrococus. Many of the species have been used medicinally. A. racemosa is a wonderful, native and ornamental plant with a range encompassing most of the Eastern US. The greenish white flowers come out in June and July on lovely arching, tapered stems from 4’-6’ followed by red, edible and pleasant tasting berries that persist into the fall. Though often found growing in the light shade and woodland edges, it seems to do fine in full sun, growing into a fuller specimen. Adaptable, but responds to rich soil. We have been propagating this slow growing plant from seeds gathered locally and will start to offer stock this year. Aralia is slow to establish, but once it does can grow quite large and is difficult to move. Choose a location carefully.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. cashmerica - Himilayan native, white flowers followed by black berries. A fuller plant then A. racemosa.
A. racemosa - Northeastern US native, white flowers followed by red berries. Pollinator, birds eat the berries in fall.
Aralia is an interesting genus of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. There are over 70 species with worldwide distribution. The family araliaceae encompasses such plants as ginseng, sarsaparilla and eluthrococus. Many of the species have been used medicinally. A. racemosa is a wonderful, native and ornamental plant with a range encompassing most of the Eastern US. The greenish white flowers come out in June and July on lovely arching, tapered stems from 4’-6’ followed by red, edible and pleasant tasting berries that persist into the fall. Though often found growing in the light shade and woodland edges, it seems to do fine in full sun, growing into a fuller specimen. Adaptable, but responds to rich soil. We have been propagating this slow growing plant from seeds gathered locally and will start to offer stock this year. Aralia is slow to establish, but once it does can grow quite large and is difficult to move. Choose a location carefully.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. cashmerica - Himilayan native, white flowers followed by black berries. A fuller plant then A. racemosa.
A. racemosa - Northeastern US native, white flowers followed by red berries. Pollinator, birds eat the berries in fall.
Aralia is an interesting genus of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. There are over 70 species with worldwide distribution. The family araliaceae encompasses such plants as ginseng, sarsaparilla and eluthrococus. Many of the species have been used medicinally. A. racemosa is a wonderful, native and ornamental plant with a range encompassing most of the Eastern US. The greenish white flowers come out in June and July on lovely arching, tapered stems from 4’-6’ followed by red, edible and pleasant tasting berries that persist into the fall. Though often found growing in the light shade and woodland edges, it seems to do fine in full sun, growing into a fuller specimen. Adaptable, but responds to rich soil. We have been propagating this slow growing plant from seeds gathered locally and will start to offer stock this year. Aralia is slow to establish, but once it does can grow quite large and is difficult to move. Choose a location carefully.
AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
A. cashmerica - Himilayan native, white flowers followed by black berries. A fuller plant then A. racemosa.
A. racemosa - Northeastern US native, white flowers followed by red berries. Pollinator, birds eat the berries in fall.
Selections
Our native spikenard is called A. Racemosa, a beautiful and often imposing plant with season long interest. There is also an Asian species (cultivar?) in the trade, A. Cordata, ‘Sun King’. It has a yellower leaf and a smaller form. We are still growing this one out. A. kashmerica is a beautiful species from Tibet and China that makes an overall nicer landscape plant. We have a nice collection of this species.