American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
[ah-RAY-lee-ah rass-ih-MOE-sah]

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Shrub-Like in the Araliaceae Family
American Spikenard is a bold, shrub-like woodland perennial with huge compound leaves, airy white flower clusters, and dark purple-black berries -- a native architectural accent that thrives where little else will grow.

Aralia racemosa (American Spikenard) is a native woodland perennial that behaves more like a small shrub than a typical herbaceous plant, dying back to the ground each winter and re-emerging each spring to form a broad, coarse-textured clump 3-6 ft tall and equally wide. Its huge, doubly-compound leaves -- some of the largest of any native perennial -- unfurl on reddish stems, giving the plant a bold, almost tropical look well suited to woodland gardens. In summer, tiny greenish-white flowers cluster into large, branched, globe-shaped umbels, followed by dark purple-black berries relished by songbirds. The aromatic roots, historically used as a sarsaparilla-like flavoring, are the source of the plant's common name.

Pros

  • Bold, architectural foliage brings a tropical look to shade gardens
  • Thrives in deep shade where few other natives will grow
  • Berries are a favorite of songbirds; flowers draw a wide range of pollinators
  • Tolerant of black walnut (juglone) and low-maintenance once established

Cons

  • Large, coarse habit can overwhelm small beds
  • Spreads by rhizomes and can form colonies if not kept in check
  • Dies back completely in winter, leaving a bare spot
  • Slow and difficult to start from seed
Why Like

In the wild, American Spikenard is a valued understory plant of rich woods and forest edges across much of eastern North America. Its late-summer flowers draw a wide range of bees, wasps, flies, and beetles, and its berries are an important late-season food source for songbirds -- especially thrushes -- as well as black bears in parts of its northern range. Because it tolerates deep shade and even the juglone produced by black walnut trees, it fills a niche few other native perennials can.
Highlights Huge, bold compound leaves; airy white flower clusters ripening to purple-black berries; thrives in deep shade; aromatic roots gave the plant its common name.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 6 feet tall. 3 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fast Growth Rate, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Full Sun, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Shrub, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ferns, hostas, wild ginger, and other shade-loving woodland perennials that won't be overwhelmed by its bold foliage.
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!