£12.00
Aralia ‘Sun King’ is a standout herbaceous perennial prized for its glowing golden compound foliage and graceful form. Emerging in spring, its large, finely toothed leaves form a densely rounded clump of about 75–90 cm tall and wide, with the foliage maintaining bright yellow if it receives a few hours of sun per day, or shifting to chartreuse-green in deeper shade.
Aralia ‘Sun King’ is a standout herbaceous perennial prized for its glowing golden compound foliage and graceful form. Emerging in spring, its large, finely toothed leaves form a densely rounded clump of about 75–90 cm tall and wide, with the foliage maintaining bright yellow if it receives a few hours of sun per day, or shifting to chartreuse-green in deeper shade.
In mid to late summer, it produces tall spikes (up to ~60 cm) of tiny white starry flowers, followed by clusters of deep purple-black berries, which are decorative but inedible—though birds enjoy them.
Native to eastern Asia (Japan, Korea, China), ‘Sun King’ was selected for its stunning foliage and was honored as Perennial Plant of the Year 2020, as well as earning recognition like the Theodore Klein and IHPU awards.
Light: Prefers part shade, ideally with a few hours of morning or filtered sun to retain vivid gold tones. In full shade, foliage turns paler green.
Soil & Moisture: Grows best in rich, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; drought should be avoided.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–9 (Hardiness rating H7 in the UK), tolerates winter down to –20 °C and dies back to the soil in frosts.
Maintenance: Low-maintenance. Dies back in winter and regrows vigorously in spring. May propagate slowly via rhizomes; division is possible if needed.
Bold golden foliage provides striking colour contrast in shady borders, woodland gardens, or as a background for lower plantings like hostas, heucheras, and ferns.
Pollinator and wildlife friendly: summer blooms attract bees; berries in autumn feed birds.
Deer-resistant and generally pest- and disease-resistant, though occasional aphids or leaf-spot may occur.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Height & Spread | ~75–90 cm (30–36″) both ways |
| Foliage | Golden-yellow (sun) to chartreuse-green (shade), compound leaves |
| Flowers & Fruit | White umbels → purple-black berries |
| Light | Part shade; some sun needed for brightest leaves |
| Soil | Moist, humus-rich, well-drained |
| Hardiness | USDA Zones 3–9; hardy to –20 °C |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees and birds; deer-resistant |
In summary: Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ is a dramatic, resilient foliage plant that lights up shady areas with its radiant golden leaves and architectural form. With its pollinator-attracting summer blooms and fall berries, it delivers multi-seasonal interest with minimal care.
| Size | 1 Litre, 2 Litre, 3 Litre, 5 Litre, 10 Litre |
|---|
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