Habitat

• Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russian Far East

Habit and Form

• deciduous
• large shrub or small tree
• coarse, thick stems with prickles
• few side branches
• suckers from base and spreads

Summer Foliage

• alternate
• very large leaves (2'-4' long)
• bi- or tri-pinnate, dark green

Autumn Foliage

• poor yellow or no color
• leaves may drop early in season

Flowers

• large terminal panicles of whitish blooms
• blooms late in season, July-August

Fruit

• small blackish drupes, taken by birds or drop early
• infrutescence often colored pink and persists

Bark

• rough gray with prickles
• prominent, large leaf scars

Culture

• easy to grow, adapted to any well-drained soil
• sun to light shade, pH tolerant
• pollution and neglect tolerant

Landscape Uses

• large shrub borders
• background plantings
• plant in areas with poor, lean soil
• specimen where growth is restrained

Liabilities

• coarse appearance in winter
• stems are full of sharp prickles
• vigorous, running habit needs room
• difficult to find commercially; cultivars very expensive

ID Features

• thick, coarse unbranched stems
• stems are covered with prickles
• huge bi- or tri-pinnate leaves
• large clusters of white blooms in late summer

Propagation

• by seed
• division of suckers
• root cuttings
• cultivars are grafted

Cultivars/Varieties

The variegated cultivars of Aralia elata are among the most spectacular variegated plants, but they must be grafted and are therefore rare and expensive.

'Aureovariegata' - This form bears yellow-edged leaflets and is the most common cultivar.

'Golden Umbrella' - A new, rare form featuring refined yellow-margined leaflets that fade to white, this plant is not common.

'Silver Umbrellas' - This plant is similar to 'Variegata', but is smaller in all respects and more finely textured.

'Variegata' - Most notable for its white-edged leaflets, this plant appears very similar to 'Aureovariegata'.