Why Plant Sun King Aralia?
All hail the Sun King! This truly regal Spirit demands attention. Quickly growing tall and wide, with tropical-looking compound leaves, it immediately establishes a bold presence. Brilliant yellow color sends it over the top. In shade, the foliage becomes chartreuse or lime green, appearing only slightly less electric. Make Sun King Aralia the centerpiece of a mixed border, or make it the star in a collection of large container plantings. This bodacious specimen is perfect to use near your outdoor living area or anyplace you’d like to enjoy fabulous foliage all season long.
This species of Aralia grew quietly in Japan, Korea, and China for ages, nobody paying it much attention. It its homelands, the young shoots are specially prepared and eaten like asparagus; the roots are also believed to have some medicinal value. As an ornamental plant, it was never really on the radar. Then Pennsylvania plantsman Barry Yinger found Sun King Aralia in a Japanese department store nursery. He introduced it to the United States in the early 2000s, and it became hot, hot, hot. Landscape designers and amateur gardeners alike quickly fell in love with the new yellow version. We think you will too!
How to use Sun King Aralia in the landscape?
Sun King Aralia’s main claim to fame is glorious golden foliage, but it has other charms as well. In late summer, rounded clusters of creamy white flowers emerge from dark stems. These eventually give way to dark purple berries that attract songbirds such as robins and bluebirds.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
How To Plant Sun King Aralia
Give Sun King Aralia a premium spot in your landscape. Ideally, it will have light afternoon shade, rich soil, good drainage, and plenty of water (drought is not its friend). Mulch with shredded bark, leaf mold, or pine straw to keep the root zone cool and moist. Shelter Sun King from strong winds. Although it looks like a woody plant, this big, bushy Spirit dies back completely the ground each year and starts anew in the spring. Cut the old growth back in late fall or whenever it begins to look unsightly.
How To Water
Water as soon as they arrive! Sun King plants need to be watered regularly to maintain evenly moist soil for best establishment into the landscape.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
