Overview
Aralia racemosa is a large herbaceous perennial in the ginseng family, reaching 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) tall and nearly as wide. The arching, reddish-green stems carry very large compound leaves divided into numerous heart-shaped, toothed leaflets, each leaflet 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, giving the plant a shrub-like presence though it dies to the ground each winter. From June to August it bears branched clusters of small greenish-white flowers held in rounded umbels along terminal stalks. These mature into dark purple to blackish berries about 0.25 inch (6 mm) wide in late summer and fall, which are eaten by birds. A. racemosa grows in the rich, moist soils of deciduous woodlands, ravines, and shaded slopes, tolerating deep to partial shade. It needs consistent moisture and humus-rich ground; it declines in dry, exposed sites and full afternoon sun. The aromatic roots have a long record of use in traditional medicine and root beer flavoring. Growth is slow to establish but long-lived once settled, with plants expanding from a thick rhizome.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and west to Manitoba, Minnesota, and the Appalachian and Ozark uplands.Suggested Uses
Used as a bold specimen or background plant in shade gardens, woodland borders, and native plantings. The berries draw birds in late summer. Its large size suits the back of moist, shaded beds rather than confined spaces.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Bloom Information
Greenish-white flowers open from June to August in branched umbel clusters. Bloom is followed by dark purple berries that persist into October. Flowering is heaviest on established plants in moist shade.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight