Aralia, Golden Aralia, Japanese Spikenard 'Sun King'

This is a fantastic plant, I’ve had it about three years and divided it into three plants today. It looks so good next to all the host...Read Morea’s, always so bright and healthy looking.

Response to frany4birds - No, not invasive at all - doesn't reseed or sucker. Mail-ordered in 3" pot 10 years ago, now clump base is 1.5 ...Read Moreft wide in partial shade. In summer, plant stands 6' tall and 6-8' wide - the gorgeous centerpiece of my 20' round garden. I'll try dividing it for the first time this spring, either in half or thirds.

I love this plant - stunning combined with red cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, fuschia/red bee balms, purple gayfeather, lady's mantle, heucheras and hardy geraniums.

Description says plant has "spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling". I haven't noticed this at all. Mine thrives with average moisture and 2-3 hours sun per day.

I am interested in this plant which is new to me. I'm afraid it is invasive. Does it self sow extensively? or other negative comments wou...Read Moreld be helpful. Otherwise, I'm looking forward in purchasing it to highlight a shady spot and feed the birds, too!

This is a massive perennial which lights up the shade garden with its bold compound chartreuse leaves. The plant has a major garden prese...Read Morence. The foliage is outstanding---the effect is lush and tropical. Stems and petioles and rachis are dark purple. The leaves kept their golden-chartreuse color the whole season.

The flowers and fruit are attractive, but their impact is small compared with that of the foliage.

I planted it two seasons ago, and last year the foliage was picture-perfect. I suspect that this coming season it will reach its mature size---last year it reached only about 4' high.

This perennial is late to emerge from dormancy in spring. During the growing season, it has the solid presence of a shrub. But the foliage deteriorates with the approach of frost and leaves a void in the border till late in the next spring. I'm thinking of underplanting with early spring bulbs, though that doesn't begin to fill the void.

This plant needs consistent moisture and protection from the hottest sun. Partial shade suits it best, with a couple of hours of morning sun. The bed has an automated irrigation system.

The young shoots of the parent species are blanched and eaten in east Asia, where it's native. There the roots are also used in traditional medicine as a substitute for ginseng, to which it's related. The fruit is toxic to humans but favored by birds.

This species has no spines.