Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Aralia racemosa

American Spikenard · Indianroot · Life-of-man

Family AraliaceaeGenus Aralia

A broad clump of large divided leaves carrying clusters of round green and dark purple berries, a garden label at its center
FruitUrbanPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herb, SubshrubPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

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

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • American spikenard has gathered many names, among them Indian root, spice berry, spignet, life-of-man and petty morel. It grows 1 to 2 m tall in shady places across much of the eastern United States. Wikipedia: Aralia racemosa

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in May.

No stated waiting before sowing.

50% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aralia p. 99Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. racemosa germ. 2/4 in May in outdoor treatment and none in 70D, 70L, or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aralia p. 99. 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, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aralia p. 99Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. racemosa germ. 2/4 in May in outdoor treatment and none in 70D, 70L, or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aralia p. 99. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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

Add to My Garden

View species page