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Lavender companion · grow guide
Japanese Spikenard · Aralia cordata
Give it part shade and rich, moist soil with room to grow. Aralia cordata is a large, bold-leaved perennial that dies to the ground each winter and regrows big each spring.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
Steady waterMoist drainage
pH 5.5–7.0Soil
Zones 3a–9bHardiness
72″ tall72″ wide
Some resistanceDeer · rabbits some resistance
Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Sun King will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b
Spring after frost, or early fall.
Your year with Sun King
When it arrives
Plugs arrive in active growth. Water the tray right away and keep it in bright shade, never hot sun. Plant within a few days or move into 3–4" pots. Set each plug so its top is level with the soil, and keep it evenly moist for the first month.
Spring after frost, or early fall.
Plant with the top of the plug or root ball level with the surrounding soil.
3–4 ft apart; mature clumps get about 3 ft tall and wide or more.
Rich, humusy loam · pH 5.5–7.0
Fix-it tip: Work in plenty of compost or leaf mold. Mulch 2" to hold moisture. Avoid dry, sandy spots unless you can water.
Part shade (tolerates morning sun; golden types like sun king take more sun if kept moist).
Hot afternoon sun scorches leaves. In deep shade, golden foliage turns more chartreuse-green.
Don’t give up on it
Emerges in mid- to late spring as thick shoots from below ground, then grows fast. Don't dig in the area before late spring; it can look like nothing is there.
Wait for late shoots; topdress with compost.
Water in dry spells; watch for scorch.
Cut back after frost.
Mulch young plants.
First season: Keep soil evenly moist all first season; water deeply 1–2 times a week in dry weather.
After that: Water in dry spells; it wilts quickly when soil dries.
Topdress with compost each spring, or give one balanced slow-release feeding.
Cut stems to the ground after frost blackens them in fall, or in early spring. Small berries follow the late-summer flowers.
Rarely needed. It forms a large, deep-rooted clump that resents moving.
Herbaceous; dies back fully after frost. A fall mulch helps young plants.
Leaves scorch in hot afternoon sun and dry soil. Keep watered through summer heat.
Brown, crispy leaf edgesLikely cause: Too much sun or dry soil
What to do: Water deeply; add mulch; give afternoon shade
Leaves green instead of goldLikely cause: Deep shade
What to do: Golden types color best with some morning sun
Nothing showing in MayLikely cause: Late emergence
What to do: Wait until late spring before assuming loss
Wilting and crispy, brown leaf edges mean too dry or too much sun. Yellowing with soggy soil means poor drainage.
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 10 gallon+
Too large for most pots; only in a very large container kept constantly moist.
Outdoor plant
Not suited to indoor growing.
Best after a cold winter
A normal winter dormancy keeps plants vigorous.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 10 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Needs moist, rich soil and shade, the opposite of lavender. Grow it in a shaded border or woodland edge, not in the lavender bed.
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