Aralia racemosa: decorative qualities for landscape design
Aralia racemosa, also called American spikenard, is a shrub. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall. People also know it as little rose or Indian root.
This plant has shoots that are both stiff and bendable. They branch out a lot, making the plant wide. The shoots do not have thorns. The leaves can grow up to 30 inches long. They are shaped like ovals or wide ovals. The leaves are green.
The root system has thick rhizomes. These help the plant live in different conditions. Rhizomes store food and water for the plant.
The flowers grow in panicles at the end of the shoots. These panicles have smaller branches. The flowers grow in simple umbels, which are 0.6 to 1 inch wide. The flowers are small and a greenish-white color.
Aralia racemosa blooms in May and June. Many small flowers cover the bush at this time. Flowering is important for the area's ecosystem. Bees and other insects visit the flowers. They carry pollen to other plants. This helps the plants make seeds.
After flowering, the plant makes small black fruits. These are called drupes. The fruits ripen and become food for animals. Birds, small mammals, and other wildlife eat the fruits. The fruits help the animals survive.
Aralia racemosa grows best in shady places. It needs soil that is fresh and drains well. Water the plant weekly to keep the soil moist.
Feed the plant balanced fertilizer in spring and summer. Use half the normal strength. The fertilizer should have equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Fertilize every four weeks. In the fall, fertilize every six to eight weeks. Do not fertilize in the winter.
You can grow Aralia from seeds. Plant the seeds in good soil that drains well. This plant can handle cold winters. It can survive temperatures down to -34°C. You do not need to cover it in the winter.
In gardens, Aralia racemosa can be a focal point. Plant it in the middle of a flower bed. Use it to mark the corners of a garden. It also looks good along borders. It grows well with ferns, hostas, and woodland wildflowers. Trilliums are one example of a good companion plant.