BlueBell Arboretum & Nursery

Mail order trees, shrubs, conifers and woody climbers

Available autumn/winter 2011

Description

A splendid plant native to parts of Eastern Asia, including Japan, China and Korea, Aralia elata has huge, bi-pinnate leaves which can be up to 100 - 125 cm long on an established plants. The intriguing stems are covered with large thorns and in late summer, very ornamental, creamy-white flower panicles open.

Aralia elata  is very suitable to larger gardens or woodland areas as it will generally sucker and eventually form an established thicket with great architectural quality!

Supplied Size: bare root plants

• Position: Full sun or shade in a position sheltered from strong winds.
• Soil: Any well drained, fertile soil. Aralia elata is tolerant of nutritionally poor soil.
• Hardiness: Hardy. The young foliage can be damaged by late frost and Aralia elata is best planted in a position out of early morning sunlight.
• Flowering Period: August - September
• Flower Colour: Creamy white
• Rate of Growth: Moderate to vigorous.
• Habit: Large branching, spreading shrub.
  • Height: up to 5 m (16 ft)
  • Spread: 5 m (16 ft)

• Notes: We have a specimen of Aralia elata, planted in the woodland garden surrounding our nursery. It is 12 years old, has suckered to form a thicket (4 m diameter)of single stems, each around 3 - 4 m tall. These suckers can be removed yearly to keep the Aralia growing with a single stem if required.