Re: Aralia - anybody growing?
- Subject: Re: [SG] Aralia - anybody growing?
- From: Russ Bragg s*@UNDERWOODSHADENURSERY.COM
- Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 17:28:07 -0400
After another summer of drought, I am once again impressed by the toughness
of Aralia nudicaulis. Here at Underwood, it's one of the natives scattered
around our woods. It grows in almost full sun to almost full shade. And
when Colston Burrell says that "established plants tolerate dry soil with
ease" he should be indicted for understatement.
As for habit, yes it spreads by stolons, but I've never seen an area where
I would call it invasive or even dominant. It shares our glacial till with
Maianthemum canadense, Smilacina racemosa, Polygonatum pubescens, Uvularia
sessilifolia and Carex pensylvanica. (all great naturalizers for dry shade,
BTW)
For the same reason that it's difficult to transplant, it's easy to
control. The main root is about 2" deep and runs laterally 3-4' or more.
Digging the average 'rootball' cuts off about 90% of the roots. To control
a colony that's overstepped its bounds, grab a stem and yank - sort of like
the Three Stooges doing electrical work - you'll get several plants in one
pull.
To propagate, collect the ripe berries in late June to early July, when the
second wave of lowbush blueberries are ripe. I clean the seeds from the
berries and sow them fresh. About half germinate the first spring and
about half the second spring.
And yes, we have them for sale.
At 08:26 AM 08/22/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> From: Bill Plummer <remmulp@STNY.RR.COM>
> Aralia nudicaulis was indigenous on my property and I have had A.
>racemosa
> for a number of years. The deer enjoyed it until I put up my fence.
>
>Marge Tait wrote:
>
> So, Bill, what's A. nudicaulis like? Do you like it? If so or not...why?
>Is it attractive - does it spread fast? I've seen pix on
> the web, but it's hard to get a true feel for what it would be like in the
>garden. Is it worth trying to grow?
>
>It spreads by underground stolons so can be a nuisance. The flower head is
>unusual and attractive in its own way, but not showy. If you are into native
>plants, it is worth growing. Incidentally, I saw Colston Borrell's Minnesota
>Garden when the NARGS meeting was there. What Colston neglected to mention
>was that he mulched his garden heavily so that he could grow Zone 5 and
>Zone 6 herbacious plants. His Aralia racemosa was imprssive. It may have bee
>A. cordata though. That is what inspired me to acquire A. racemosa.
>
>
> Bill Plummer
>Painted Post, New York, USA
>Zone 5
>77º 07' 27'' West; 42º 09' 10" North
>
Underwood Shade Nursery
PO Box 1386
North Attleboro, MA 02763-0386
508-222-2164
fax 508-222-5152
www.underwoodshadenursery.com
Zone 6A
Catalog $2.00
Open by appointment
