This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Aralia nudicaulis
  • Wild Sarsaparilla

a perennial member of the Aralia genus in the family Araliaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Aralia nudicaulis has 0 edible uses listed
Aralia nudicaulis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The rootstock is used as a flavouring[1], it is a substitute for sarsaparilla[2] and is also used for making 'root beer'[3]. It is also used as an emergency food[4] (usually mixed with oil[5]), having a sweet spicy taste and a pleasant aromatic smell[6]. A nutritious food[7], it was used by the Indians during wars or when they were hunting since it is very sustaining[8].

Young shoots - cooked as a potherb[7]. A refreshing herbal tea is made from the root[3]. Pleasantly flavoured[9][10]. The roots are boiled in water until the water is reddish-brown[11].

A jelly is made from the fruit[7]. The fruit is also used to make wine[5]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[12].

Unknown part

Condiment
Tea

Fruit

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Aralia nudicaulis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Wild sarsaparilla is a sweet pungent tonic herb that acts as an alterative. It had a wide range of traditional uses amongst the North American Indians and was at one time widely used as a substitute for the tropical medicinal herb sarsaparilla[9][5].

The root is alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and stimulant[6][13][8][9]. The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, stomach aches etc[6][8][10][14][5]. Externally it is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism, sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers and skin problems such as eczema[6][9][14]. The root is collected in late summer and the autumn and dried for later use[6][8]. A drink made from the pulverised roots is used as a cough treatment[8]. A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc[8][9].

A homeopathic remedy made from the roots is important in the treatment of cystitis[10].

Unknown part

Alterative
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Homeopathy
Pectoral
Stimulant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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[15]. 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[16][17]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[17].

Division of suckers in late winter[16]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Aralia nudicaulis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[18][15]. Requires a sheltered position[18].

Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils[12].

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].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Aralia nudicaulis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Aralia nudicaulis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Aralia nudicaulis
Genus
Aralia
Family
Araliaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[9][5][6][13][8][10][14]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[19][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.4 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.7 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. ISBN 0-7748-0533-1 (1995-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    19. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-60


    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Aralia_nudicaulis&oldid=75161"
    Facts about "Aralia nudicaulis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAraliaceae +
    Belongs to genusAralia +
    Has common nameWild Sarsaparilla +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Fruit +, Leaves + and Root +
    Has edible useSeasoning +, Unknown use + and Tea +
    Has fertility typeBee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.4 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAlterative +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Homeopathy +, Pectoral + and Stimulant +
    Has search namearalia nudicaulis + and x +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferencePartial sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAralia nudicaulis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +