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Summary
Physical Characteristics
aralia nudicaulis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Root Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment Tea
The rootstock is used as a flavouring[102], it is a substitute for sarsaparilla[43] and is also used for making 'root beer'[183]. It is also used as an emergency food[177] (usually mixed with oil[257]), having a sweet spicy taste and a pleasant aromatic smell[4]. A nutritious food[207], it was used by the Indians during wars or when they were hunting since it is very sustaining[213]. Young shoots - cooked as a potherb[207]. A refreshing herbal tea is made from the root[183]. Pleasantly flavoured[222, 238]. The roots are boiled in water until the water is reddish-brown[256]. A jelly is made from the fruit[207]. The fruit is also used to make wine[257]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[200]. The fruit is a round, purplish-black berry.
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.
Alterative Diaphoretic Diuretic Eczema Homeopathy Pectoral Stimulant
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[222, 257]. The root is alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and stimulant[4, 21, 213, 222]. The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, stomach aches etc[4, 213, 238, 254, 257]. Externally it is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism, sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers and skin problems such as eczema[4, 222, 254]. The root is collected in late summer and the autumn and dried for later use[4, 213]. A drink made from the pulverised roots is used as a cough treatment[213]. A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc[213, 222]. A homeopathic remedy made from the roots is important in the treatment of cystitis[238].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Groundcover. Wildlife - food source. A specialist nectary plant [1-2].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[1, 134]. Requires a sheltered position[1]. Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils[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]. 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. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant 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
wild sarsparilla, wild sarsaparilla.
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Northwest Territories (southwest), Yukon (south), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba (south), British Columbia, United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois (north), Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri (northeast), Nebraska (north), North Dakota, South Dakota (west), Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho (north), Montana (northwest), Washington (northeast), Wyoming (northeast), Delaware, Georgia (north), Kentucky (northeast), Maryland, North Carolina (west), Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia,
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 :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Aralia chinensis | Chinese Angelica Tree, Pumila Spirea, Chinese Astilbe | Shrub | 3.5 |
4-8
| M | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Aralia continentalis | Manchurian Spikenard | Perennial | 2.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Aralia cordata | Udo | Perennial | 1.8 |
4-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Aralia elata | Japanese Angelica Tree, Angelica Tree | Tree | 6.0 |
4-9
| M | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Aralia hispida | Bristly Sarsaparilla | Shrub | 1.0 |
3-7
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Aralia mandschurica | Manchurian Angelica Tree | Shrub | 3.5 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Aralia nudicaulis | Wild Sarsaparilla | Perennial | 0.4 |
4-8
| | LMH | FS | M | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Aralia racemosa | American Spikenard | Perennial | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | FS | M | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Aralia schmidtii | Sakhalin Spikenard | Perennial | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Aralia spinosa | Hercule's Club, Aralia spinosa, American Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club, Devil's Walking Stick | Tree | 9.0 |
5-9
| S | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Eleutherococcus chiisanensis | | Shrub | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Eleutherococcus divaricatus | | Shrub | 3.5 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Eleutherococcus gracylistylus | Wu Jia Pi | Shrub | 3.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 3 | |
| Eleutherococcus innovans | Taka-No-Tsume | Tree | 6.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | N | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Eleutherococcus japonicus | | Shrub | 3.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Eleutherococcus senticosus | Siberian Ginseng | Shrub | 2.0 |
3-7
| S | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 5 | |
| Eleutherococcus seoulensis | | Shrub | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus | | Shrub | 4.5 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 3 | |
| Eleutherococcus sieboldianus | Ukogi, Five Leafed Aralia | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Eleutherococcus spinosus | | Shrub | 3.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Eleutherococcus trifoliatus | | Shrub | 6.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 1 | |
| Hedera helix | Ivy, English ivy, Algerian ivy, Baltic Ivy, Common Ivy | Climber | 15.0 |
5-11
| M | LMH | FSN | MWe | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Hedera nepalensis | Nepal Ivy | Climber | 15.0 |
7-10
| M | LMH | FSN | MWe | 0 | 2 | |
| Kalopanax sciadophylloides | | Tree | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Kalopanax septemlobus | Tree Aralia, Castor aralia | Tree | 25.0 |
4-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Kirkophytum lyallii | | Perennial | 0.2 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Oplopanax horridus | Devil's Club | Shrub | 2.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Panax ginseng | Ginseng, Chinese ginseng | Perennial | 0.8 |
5-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 5 | |
| Panax japonicus | Japanese Ginseng | Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Panax pseudoginseng | Ginseng, Japanese ginseng | Perennial | 1.0 |
5-9
| S | LMH | FS | M | 1 | 3 | |
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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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