Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Araliaceae

Genus:

Aralia

Species:

Aralia californica

USDA Symbol:

ARCA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, greenish-white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals

Fall Color:

yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers riparian zones and shaded areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds require cold-moist stratification. Germination can be erratic; fresh seed germinates best. Surface sow or barely cover.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI