Growing Aralia: Tips at a Glance
- Type Tree or shrub
- Lifespan Perennial
- USDA Zones 4-11
- Light Sun to filtered shade
- Water Well-drained soil
- Where to Plant Sheltered spot
- Design Tip Miniature potted tree
- Companions Hostas
- Peak Season Year-round
Aralia: A Field Guide
Indoors or out, from small shrub to towering tree, aralias add an exotic air with their untamed evergreen foliage.
The species—around 70 of them—vary enormously, but all Aralia hails from Asia, Malaysia, and the Americas. Their leaves can vary from feathery (like the Ming aralia) to glossy and round (Fabian aralia). They can be evergreen or deciduous and indoors most are easy to care for (let the top inch of soil dry before watering the pot).