Sun King Aralia
Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
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Sun King Aralia - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Sun King Aralia highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer
Growing Zones 4-9
Tropical Ambience in Shade Sun King Aralia
- Award-Winning Perennial
- Grows Beautifully in Shade or Partial Shade
- Bold Yellow to Lime Green Foliage
- Large, Finely Toothed Leaves
- White Blooms in Summer
- Decorative Purple Berries Feed Birds in Fall
- Widely Adaptable and Hardy
- Fast Growing Filler Plant
- Natural, Rounded, Freeform "Shaggy" Style
- Nectar Resource for Pollinators
- Easy-Care
Move over Impatiens! Make room for the exceptionally colorful foliage of Sun King Aralia (Aralia cordata 'Sun King'). This clump-forming, rounded perennial brightens shady corners, and takes Canadian-style cold and Houston-level heat.
This improved cultivar of Golden Japanese Spikenard is native to shady forested areas. The large leaves of this rugged filler plant add a lot of pizzazz to "ho-hum" areas.
The bright gold leaves are finely toothed, and brilliantly colored. Use in multiples to cheer up an otherwise dim and gloomy garden bed. Create a memorable massed display under mature trees.
Sun King featured arched, highly textured, pointed leaves and sharply contrasting reddish-brown stems. With its sculptural, freeform habit, it enlivens your woodland plantings of Fern and Hosta!
The serrated leaves are pointed at the end, with a decidedly tropical appearance. In late summer, they produce tiny white flowers on spikes, which develop into decorative deep purple berries.
Humans can't eat the berries, but birds do! They also add an amazing designer touch in your fall landscape.
Rely on the Sun King Aralia to boost the appeal of any areas in part shade or full shade. It works hard to accent either residential or commercial settings.
No wonder this tough, easy-care plant won the 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year award! Order Sun King Aralia today!
How to Use Sun King Aralia in the Landscape
This is an outstanding deciduous perennial to fill your woodland garden with bold color. Use them as a large focal point on the east side of your house, or in a naturalized area for a stunning effect.
These plants complement both the rounded leaves of Hosta and the airy leaves of Ferns. A single plant makes an exceptional specimen, and looks gorgeous as a drift, long row, or mass planting.
For a solid fill of color, plant them two feet apart on center. You’ll measure from the center of one to the center of the next.
To fill bare ground, create a mass planting. Add additional rows in a zigzagging planting pattern, then add mulch between plants until they grow together. Keep new mass plantings weeded.
You'll love the soft fullness these gorgeous plants give to your planting beds. They are absolutely delightful in the landscape.
#ProPlantTips for Care
Sun King Aralia loves a spot in the shade. Only in Zones 4 or 5 should you attempt a full-sun placement—and then only if you give regular water.
They develop a more chartreuse color in shade, and brighten to showy yellow with at least four hours of direct sunlight. Morning sun and afternoon shade are the ticket to success with these award-winning plants.
It appreciates humus-rich soil that is well-drained and uniformly moist. In dry soils, be sure to mulch heavily and provide supplemental water if you don't receive enough rain.
Sun King dies back to the ground each winter. For a clean look, cut last year's foliage back to a few inches above the ground early, before it emerges in spring. In some countries, the new shoots are blanched and enjoyed, much like Asparagus. Wildcraft to your heart's content, or let them fill into their allotted space as a low mound of bright color.
Brilliant color, outstanding plant award-winning, and easy-care… what more could you ask for? Spark up your low-light areas with the high-impact, personality-plus of Sun King Aralia. Order yours today!
