• Image of Aralia cordata|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

  • Image of Aralia cordata|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

  • Image of Aralia cordata|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Aralia cordata

Cordate Spikenard

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 2174

Zones: 4a to 8b, at least

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 96" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade

Origin: China, Japan, Korea

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


With the huge number of plants we've grown over the years, it's still hard to beat the Asian (Japan, China, Korea) Aralia cordata. This easy-to-grow deciduous, deer resistant perennial matures in rich moist soils as an 8' tall x 8' wide monster...perfect for those who like bold, tropical-looking textures in their garden. Each pinnately-compound 4' long x 3.5' wide leaf attaches to the thick, bumpy, upright, green stalk, resembling an astilbe on steroids. Starting in late June, Aralia cordata is topped with 2' long racemes of tiny white flowers which later turn into equally large racemes of small purple berries. In the South, we refer to plants like this as "big honkers". Not only is Aralia cordata great in the garden, but it's quite edible in salads and soups, and is known in Japan as Udo.