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Aralia elata - (Miq.)Seem.

Common Name Japanese Angelica Tree, Angelica Tree
Family Araliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Thin woodland and thickets on rich well moistened slopes[74, 109], 900 - 2000 metres in N. Hupeh[109].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Aralia elata Japanese Angelica Tree, Angelica Tree


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Aralia elata Japanese Angelica Tree, Angelica Tree
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Doronenko

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Aralia elata is a deciduous Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Dimorphanthus elatus.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Young shoots - cooked[177, 200]. They can also be blanched and used in salads. The young shoots of Aralia elata are a popular wild food in Japan where the tree is known as Taranoki and the shoots as Taranome. In Korea the shoots are called dureup.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne  Cancer  Carminative

The roots and stems are anodyne and carminative[147]. All parts of the plant are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthralgia, coughs, diabetes, jaundice, stomach ulcers and stomach cancers[147, 218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Landscape Uses: Specimen. Special Features: Not North American native, Blooms are very showy. attracts wildlife. Nectary - Shelter [1-2].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a good deep loam and a position in semi-shade but it also succeeds in a sunny position[11, 200]. Requires a sheltered position. Plants are hardier when grown on poorer soils[11, 200]. Prefers an acid soil[184]. Dormant plants are hardy to at least -15°c[184, 200]. 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[182]. This species is closely allied to A. chinensis. In Japan Aralia elata is a pioneering plant that often grows where forests have been cleared. In open sunny areas with adequate soil moisture it grows rapidly. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A clumping plant, forming a colony from shoots away from the crown but with a limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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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[134]. 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[11, 78]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[78]. Division of suckers in late winter[11]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Japanese angelica-tree, Japanese aralia, Dureumnamu, Dureupnamu, Turup, Turupnamu [1-4].

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Japan* native, Korea, North America, Russia, Siberia, USA [1-4]. UK (RHS).

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Miq.)Seem.

Botanical References

1174200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Sat Jul 29 2006

This is an invasive exotic plant in the Northeastern US-- please don't plant it! Instead, you can find a local natural area where it is likely to be growing and remove as much as possible.

Zia Hrdy   Wed May 16 2007

the young shoots and leaves are often served as tempura in japan in spring time- but beware the little spines on the young leaves- they will get stuck in your throat!

   Sun May 25 2008

I started some from seed. They sucker like mad and I am always pulling them up. I can't reccomend them in Minnesota.

martin nicklin   Tue Sep 30 2008

Try the varieties 'Variegata', 'Albomarginata' or 'Aureovariegata' which are beautifully variegated varieties, have much less vigour and are much more worthy of a place in the garden. They are also much more expensive and, in the UK, quite a choice small tree.

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