Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
Japanese spikenard 'Sun King'
'Sun King' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial reaching up to 1.2m tall. Its large, compound leaves emerge golden-yellow in spring and maintain their gold colour when exposed to sun for a few hours each day. Tiny white flowers are borne on spikes up to 60cm tall in late summer, forming inedible purple berries in the autumn
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Gold Green Yellow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Gold Green Yellow | ||
| Autumn | Gold Green Yellow | Purple | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Ideally plant in full sun or partial shade to maintain the golden-yellow colour of the leaves. If grown in shady conditions, foliage will turn lime-green
Propagation
Propagate by seed or by division in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required
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
Get involved
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