Aralia Sun King Seeds

Aralia cordata 'Sun King', also known as Golden Japanese Spikenard, is a bold and beautiful shade perennial prized for its glowing golden-yellow to chartreuse foliage. Its large, tropical-looking leaves brighten shady garden spaces and create a dramatic contrast when planted among hostas, ferns, woodland plants, and darker green foliage.

This eye-catching plant forms a full, upright clump and brings a lush, almost shrub-like presence to the garden while still behaving as a hardy perennial. In part sun, the foliage tends to glow brighter yellow, while in deeper shade it takes on rich lime-green to chartreuse tones. Small white flowers may appear in summer, followed by dark berries that add seasonal interest.

'Sun King' is an excellent choice for shade gardens, woodland borders, mixed perennial beds, and large containers. It is valued for its easy-care nature, bold texture, and ability to light up darker corners of the landscape.

Zones: For zones 4-8. Best grown in moist, fertile, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade. Site in locations protected from strong winds to protect the foliage. Aralias often self-sow where the berries drop and are somewhat easy to naturalize into colonies. Seeds need to be cold stratified.

• Botanical Name: Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
• Common Name: Golden Japanese Spikenard
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Light: Part shade to shade; morning sun helps brighten foliage color
• Foliage Color: Golden-yellow to chartreuse-lime
• Garden Use: Shade gardens, woodland borders, specimen plantings, and containers
• Special Features: Bold foliage, tropical appearance, shade tolerant, deer resistant