Aralia cordata 'Sun King' | Limited Release - Pickup Now

Limited Release - Buy Now, Pickup at The Ranch This Week!

🌿 Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ – Golden Japanese Spikenard
2020 Perennial Plant of the Year

Bring a burst of golden brilliance to shady spaces with Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’—a bold, tropical-looking perennial that thrives in part shade. Its huge, compound leaves (up to 3 feet long!) emerge a dazzling yellow in spring, glowing against reddish-brown stems. Give it a few hours of sun and it will stay bright gold all summer; in deeper shade, the foliage shifts to chartreuse-lime.

This fast-growing, clump-forming beauty reaches about 3–6 feet tall and wide, creating instant impact in beds, borders, and large containers. In mid to late summer, it produces airy clusters of creamy white flowers that draw in honeybees, followed by deep purplish-black (inedible) berries for extra ornamental interest.

Native to Japan and beloved by gardeners worldwide, ‘Sun King’ is low-maintenance, deer and rabbit resistant, and free of serious pests or diseases. It pairs perfectly with Eclipse Hydrangea!

Award-winning: 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year®, 2012 International Hardy Plant Union Outstanding Plant Award

Shade standout: Bright gold foliage brings light to dim garden spots

Pollinator-friendly: Summer blooms attract honeybees

Low-maintenance: Pest- and critter-resistant with minimal fuss

Size: 3–6 ft tall × 3–6 ft wide
Light: Part shade (4–6 hrs sun)
Water: Average to consistent moisture
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; pH neutral to acidic
Zones: 3–9
Bloom: Midsummer–Late summer

Photos from Walters Gardens