{"title":"Aralia","description":"\u003cp\u003eBig, bright golden foliage that lights up shady corners all season. A bold, shrub-sized perennial.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"aralia-sun-king","title":"Aralia 'Sun King'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAralia 'Sun King'\u003c\/em\u003e: Chartreuse Sunshine for Deep Shade\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGold to chartreuse leaves on reddish stems, glowing in the shade like it brought its own lighting crew. 'Sun King' rules the dark corners and takes a few seasons to fully claim the throne. ALL HAIL THE SHADE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAralia cordata\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sun King'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden Japanese Spikenard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90–180 cm (3–6 ft). Young plants start smaller and bulk up over a few seasons.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90–120 cm (3–4 ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small cream-white flowers in rounded clusters on tall stalks, followed by dark purple-black berries that are not for eating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid to late summer (July to September)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large compound leaves in gold to chartreuse on reddish stems. Brightest gold with a few hours of sun, more lime green in deep shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Perennial Plant of the Year 2020\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use it as a focal point in a woodland garden, a shady border or under high tree canopy, anywhere you need size and light at the same time. It reads like a shrub in summer but dies back to the ground each winter, so cold Canadian winters don't trouble it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use the gold leaves of 'Sun King' to light up a moist, shady bed with white and pink flowers below. \u003cem\u003ePulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash'\u003c\/em\u003e opens raspberry-pink flowers at 30 to 35 cm in April and May over spotted leaves. \u003cem\u003eTiarella 'Cutting Edge'\u003c\/em\u003e adds creamy bottlebrush spikes at 20 to 25 cm in May and June. \u003cem\u003eAstilbe 'Diamond'\u003c\/em\u003e brings white plumes at 75 to 80 cm from June to August. \u003cem\u003eCarex 'Evergold'\u003c\/em\u003e edges the bed with arching cream-striped blades at 30 to 45 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant it in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the sweet spot: enough light to keep the gold, without hot afternoon sun that can scorch the leaves. Water during dry spells, especially the first season, and keep a layer of mulch over the roots. It doesn't need much feeding in good soil. Cut the stems to the ground after frost in late fall, or in early spring. Give it room from the start. It grows into a large clump and is happiest left undisturbed, so dividing is rarely needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAralia cordata\u003c\/em\u003e grows wild in shady forests of Japan, Korea and eastern China, and plantsman Barry Yinger spotted 'Sun King' at a Japanese garden centre on top of a department store and brought it to North America. The Perennial Plant Association named it the 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Give it room to bulk up and let the bees find its cream flowers, but the berries are for looking, not eating. Deer bow out. A ROYAL DECREE FOR DULL CORNERS.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Perennials","offers":[{"title":"2 Gallon Pot \/ White \/ 3","offer_id":49881898156310,"sku":"ARALSUK02","price":51.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Aralia_SunKing.png?v=1744732566"}],"url":"https:\/\/blacksheepperennials.com\/collections\/aralia.oembed","provider":"Black Sheep Perennials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}