Aralia 'Sun King' #1

Looking for something uniquely different for shade?  Try this tropical-looking golden beauty with large compound leaves that measure up to 3 feet long! 

An excellent complement to hostas and woodland perennials, ‘Sun King’ emerges mid-spring with bright gold leaves held on nicely contrasting reddish brown stems.  If given at least a few hours of sun a day, the foliage will remain yellow all summer.  In heavier shade, the foliage ranges from chartreuse to lime green. 

This plant quickly forms a large clump of foliage which amazingly resists deer browsing.  It reportedly grows just three feet tall and wide, though many plantsmen believe it will grow larger over time. 

In mid to late summer, interesting racemes of tiny white flowers are produced followed by deep purplish black, inedible berries.  Like most Aralias, the flowers attract honeybees. Hardy to Zone 3.