Aralia nudicaulis
A North American native understory perennial in the Araliaceae, it spreads by long rhizomes to form ground-cover colonies, bears large palmate leaves and spherical clusters of tiny white flowers that ripen into blue-black berry-like fruits, is valued for ornamental foliage and shade tolerance, and has a sweet-smelling rhizome once used as a sassafras substitute in homemade root beer.
Common Names
Wild Sarsaparilla, American Sarsaparilla, Virginia Sarsaparilla, Rabbit Root, Small Spikenard, Shot Bush, Wild Licorice
Summary
Wild Sarsaparilla is native to Subarctic America and the northern to eastern United States, an acaulescent perennial herb that forms colonies via long creeping rhizomes in woodland understories, with large palmate leaves and umbels of greenish-white flowers followed by dark purple to black berries.
Propagation occurs by seed requiring 3–5 months of cold stratification with germination 1–4 months after stratification, or by division of rhizomes; it tolerates shade and prefers moist, well-drained soils, and offers ornamental foliage and flower clusters in woodland plantings; uses include edible roots and medicinal applications, with flavoring in foods and root beer.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-18 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Moist, loamy, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil kept consistently moist (not waterlogged).
Soil pH
5.6-6.5 (best around 6.1-6.5)
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green, bronze green in spring, yellow or reddish in autumn, upper surface green with undersurface slightly lighter.
Fall Foliage Color
Burgundy/Maroon, Yellow, reddish
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Spreading by suckering
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Bees: Yes, Other pollinators: Yes (flies and beetles visit flowers), Birds: Yes (berries eaten by birds)
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 274 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Apiales
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Aralia
Synonyms
Aralia nudicaulis var. elongata Aralia nudicaulis var. prolifera Aralia nudicaulis f. abortiva Aralia nudicaulis f. depauperata Aralia nudicaulis f. virescens Aralia nudicaulis f. nudicaulis Aralia nudicaulis f. prolifera