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Herbaceous Perennial

Aralia cachemirica

Kashmir spikenard

A statuesque, arching deciduous perennial, growing 1.5-3m tall. Leaves are large, pinnately divided, rich green turning crimson and purple in autumn. The open panicles of tiny creamy-white flowers can be up to 30cm long, and are followed by maroon-black berries

Synonyms

Aralia macrophylla

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or North–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Aralia can be deciduous trees, shrubs or perennials, with large, simple or pinnately compound leaves and tiny greenish-white flowers in large terminal clusters, followed by small black fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Afghanistan to Himalaya, Tibet

How to grow

Cultivation

Ideally plant in full to light shade in humus-rich, evenly-moist soil. When grown on drier soils the lower leaves are often lost. Mature plants do not transplant well as they have an extensive fleshy root system. They can take several years to settle in the new position

Propagation

Propagate by seed; sow seeds as soon as ripe and keep in cold frame, or sow indoors after four weeks of cold stratification. Take root cuttings in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut down after frost

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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