Scientific Name: Aralia elata
Common Name: Japanese angelica tree
Family Name: Araliaceae
Origin: S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Zone: Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Plant Type: Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 7 - 10m x 7 - 10m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading, Upright
Form: Vase
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Specimen plant, Woodland margin
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Sheltered
Soil or Media: Humus rich
Leaves: Compound, Alternate, Soft flexible, Prickly, Pubescent, Bipinnate, Elliptic, Ovate, Serrulate
Flowers: Umbel, White, Yellow, Green, Jul-Aug-Sep
Fruit: Drupe, Black, Sep-Oct-Nov
Key ID Features:
Leaves bipinnately compound, 40-90(-120)cm long, with 7 to 9 leaflets further divided into 7-13 pinnae that are broadly ovate to elliptic, most 6-12cm long x 4-8cm wide, may have prickles arising from some veins; bark with 5mm long randomly arranged thorn-like prickles; panicles of tiny white-yellowish green florets forming simple umbels; drupes black, round, 3-4mm wide, Sep-Nov. Winter ID: twigs 6-8mm wide; spines 2-3mm long, leaf scars wrapped more than half way around with >12 bundle scars in a half circle row, buds 1-2mm long.