Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Araliaceae

Genus:

Aralia

Species:

Aralia spinosa

USDA Symbol:

ARSP2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

1000 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, cream

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Native Range

United States

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

purple, bronze

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.0 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers forest edges and disturbed areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–120 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds may exhibit double dormancy requiring warm followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic even with proper treatment.

Propagation data sourced from Claude AI