Leaf
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japanese angelica tree
Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem.
Family: Araliaceae
3 to 6 m tall
Borders and specimen planting, moist soil; planted for its architectural silhouette and spectacular foliage
Flowering: August – September
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to about -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its huge compound leaves, among the largest of any hardy shrub in Europe, give it an almost tropical silhouette despite a cold tolerance that far exceeds that of true exotic shrubs.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, bipinnate, very large (up to 1 m), grouped at the top of the stems, fine autumn colour from yellow-orange to purple
🌸 Flowers
White, in very large terminal panicles
🍎 Fruits
Small black berries in drooping clusters in autumn
🪵 Bark
Upright, sparsely branched stems covered with prickles
🗺️ Distribution
Native to East Asia (Japan, China, Korea, Russian Far East)
🐝 Value for pollinators
Late summer flowering, very nectar-rich, visited by many foraging insects
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a specimen for its spectacular architecture, variegated cultivars much sought after
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Not documented as toxic
🌿 Other Araliaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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