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Aralia elata

Japanese Angelica Tree · Japanese Aralia · Korean Angelica Tree

Family AraliaceaeGenus Aralia

The top of a small tree with large divided leaves spreading in tiers and a broad head of creamy flowers at its center
The whole plant‘Uncle Carl’ (カールおじさん).CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
8-20 ft2.4-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-10 ft1.8-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Amur, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Khabarovsk and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • In Japan its young shoots are picked in spring from the branch tips and usually fried in tempura batter; they are eaten in Korea too. Wikipedia: Aralia elata

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 1, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 35 days.

40% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. elata (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70 GA-3(35% in 3-9 w)-40(1%)- 70D(3%) and 2% in OT. None germ. in 70D-40-70D,70L-40-7ÓD, or 40-70D. Seeds DS 1 y showed no deterioration and germ. 70 GA-3(40% in 5th w)-40-70d(4%), and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 5, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 63 days.

35% germination in 21–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. elata (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70 GA-3(35% in 3-9 w)-40(1%)- 70D(3%) and 2% in OT. None germ. in 70D-40-70D,70L-40-7ÓD, or 40-70D. Seeds DS 1 y showed no deterioration and germ. 70 GA-3(40% in 5th w)-40-70d(4%), and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

about 6 months from start to sowing.

2% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. elata (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70 GA-3(35% in 3-9 w)-40(1%)- 70D(3%) and 2% in OT. None germ. in 70D-40-70D,70L-40-7ÓD, or 40-70D. Seeds DS 1 y showed no deterioration and germ. 70 GA-3(40% in 5th w)-40-70d(4%), and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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