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Sun King Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata 'Sun King')Foliage

Sun King Japanese Spikenard

Aralia cordata 'Sun King'

Sun King Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata 'Sun King') is a perennial, hardy in USDA zones 4-8, that matures to about 3-6 ft × 3-6 ft. It does best in part shade with medium water needs. Expect white blooms in summer and fall. It attracts bees and birds, stands up well to deer and rabbits, grows happily in containers.

USDA zones
4-8
Sun
Part shade
Water
Medium
Mature size
3-6 ft × 3-6 ft
Maintenance
Medium
Bloom color
White
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Attracts
Bees, Birds
Tough against
Deer, Rabbits
Native to
Southern China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Russian Far East

In the landscape

Bold foliageGolden foliageSpecimenFocal pointShade borderUnder treesWoodlandFoundation

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Sun King Japanese Spikenard is hardy to about -30°F (estimated from USDA zone 4), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

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