Sun King Aralia
Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
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Specifications
| Plant Characteristics | Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Container Friendly, Non-invasive |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Partial shade |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Watering Needs | Moderate |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Plant Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Blooms In | Fall, Summer |
| Flower Color | White |
| Suitable Space | Outdoors |
| Botanical Name | |
| Species | |
| Cultivar | |
| Class | Apiales |
| Does Not Ship To | AK, HI, ID, MT, PR |
Description
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!
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping Rates
Ships in 3-5 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
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The sun king aralia arrived in very poor condition. They (2) were dry, limp, and brown. I contacted Nature Hills Nursery who said to prune the brown areas and to plant. I did and they seem to be doing very well. Not as big as expected with pruning so much of the plants.
This is a great shade perennial, but mine got roughed up a bit during shipment so I'm only giving 4/5 stars. The box it came in lacked any sort of "this end up" marking, and I think that's all it would have taken to prevent any damage. Fortunately, I planted it immediately, and it's rebounded beautifully!
Hello Wesley,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We genuinely appreciate your honest feedback, and we're glad to hear that your shade perennial is thriving despite the rough delivery. We completely understand how important packaging is for ensuring plants arrive in the best condition. I’ve passed your suggestion about “this end up” markings along to our shipping team to help improve future deliveries.
If you ever need tips or care information to keep your perennial flourishing, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re always happy to help. Thanks again for choosing Nature Hills and taking such great care of your new plant!
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
We can see why it is an award winning perennial...fantastic larger scale perennial to brighten up those older perennial gardens that might be getting a bit more shade than they used to. The bright yellow color is just what we were looking for to upgrade our tired looking perennial border. The berries are a bonus for sure. Love this perennial
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely experience with the Aralia cordata 'Sun King'! We’re thrilled to hear how its vibrant yellow foliage has brought new life and brightness to your perennial border, especially in those shadier spots. You’re absolutely right—its dazzling berries are a charming bonus that add extra interest to the garden as the season progresses.
If you ever want tips on fertilizing or extending its color throughout the growing season, we’re happy to offer guidance. And since you appreciate larger-scale perennials, we’d be delighted to help you explore other bright companions that thrive in shaded or partly shaded areas.
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
We can see why it is an award winning perennial...fantastic larger scale perennial to brighten up those older perennial gardens that might be getting a bit more shade than they used to. The bright yellow color is just what we were looking for to upgrade our tired looking perennial border. The berries are a bonus for sure. Love this perennial
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for sharing your glowing review of the Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’! We’re absolutely delighted to hear how well it’s brightening up your older perennial garden and providing just the splash of vibrant yellow color you hoped for. The way you described it enhancing those shadier spots really captures the magic this perennial can bring, especially in gardens that need a refreshing touch. And yes—the berries are such a charming bonus that can really add interest through fall!
If you’re looking for more ways to complement the ‘Sun King,’ you might consider pairing it with shade-tolerant perennials like hostas or ferns that can offer contrasting textures. Feel free to reach out if you want recommendations tailored specifically to your garden’s conditions—we love helping make sure your space keeps thriving.
Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts
