Practical
Plants

Aralia elata

Japanese Angelica Tree

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Aralia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Young shoots - cooked[5][8]. They can also be blanched and used in salads.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The roots and stems are anodyne and carminative[4]. All parts of the plant are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthralgia, coughs, diabetes, jaundice, stomach ulcers and stomach cancers[4][9].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Carminative

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thin woodland and thickets on rich well moistened slopes[10][1], 900 - 2000 metres in N. Hupeh[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this. Root cuttings 8cm long, December in a cold frame[2][11]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[11]. Division of suckers in late winter[2]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

Prefers a good deep loam and a position in semi-shade but it also succeeds in a sunny position[2][8]. Requires a sheltered position. Plants are hardier when grown on poorer soils[2][8]. Prefers an acid soil[7]. Dormant plants are hardy to at least -15°c[7][8]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. A very ornamental species, there are a number of named varieties. It is usually a single stemmed shrub, spreading by means of suckers[6]. This species is closely allied to A. chinensis.

References

  1. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  10. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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