Sun King Udo (Aralia cordata 'Sun King')
ah-RAY-lee-ah kor-DAY-tah 'Sun King'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Mounding in the Araliaceae Family
Meet 'Sun King,' a unique golden-leafed that transforms to chartreuse in full shade. Adorned with tiny white flowers and striking deep purplish-black berries, this eye-catching perennial adds a touch of drama to any garden!

Aralia cordata 'Sun King' is a bold, clump-forming perennial grown for its striking golden foliage -- despite sometimes being described as a native plant, the species itself, Japanese spikenard, is actually native to woodlands in Japan, Korea, and China, not North America. New growth emerges bright golden-yellow in spring, mellowing toward chartreuse in summer shade (a few hours of morning sun keeps the color more golden), and often returns to gold tones again before dying back in fall. In mid-to-late summer, tall flower stalks rise above the foliage bearing clusters of small white flowers, followed by dark purple-black berries that birds enjoy. An award-winning introduction -- 2012 International Hardy Plant Union Outstanding Plant and 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year -- it brings season-long color to shaded borders.

Pros

  • Season-long gold foliage color from a plant that thrives in shade
  • Award-winning cultivar (2020 Perennial Plant of the Year)
  • Bold texture and vigorous, clump-forming habit fills space quickly
  • Deer and rabbit resistant; pollinator-friendly flowers and bird-friendly berries

Cons

  • Needs consistent moisture -- drought stress causes wilting and leaf decline
  • Foliage color is sun-dependent: too little sun fades gold to green, too much hot sun can scorch it
  • No winter interest; dies back completely to the ground
  • Occasional slugs, snails, aphids, or spider mites, especially under drought stress
Highlights Bright golden-yellow spring foliage that shifts toward chartreuse in shade; white summer flowers and bird-friendly purple-black berries; award-winning shade perennial; native to Japan, Korea, and China, not North America.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 6 feet tall. 3 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fall Color, Fall interest, Fast Growth Rate, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Foundation, Full Shade, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Mounded, Native to Asia, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Yellow Foliage
Bloom Period July to September
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Golden Yellow
 

Awards
 

Most Popular Plants

Commonly Planted with...

Hostas, heucheras, tiarella, ferns, astilbe, epimedium, Solomon's seal, and other shade perennials, especially dark-leaved companions like Japanese maple that set off its gold color.

Photos of This with...

Misty Lace Aruncus, Ghost Fern, Jack of Diamonds Siberian Bugloss, Mixed Combo Pastels Chrysanthemum: Pink/Peach/Pearl, Neon Star Dianthus, Honeymoon Tropical Sunset Lenten Rose, Quail Jonquilla Daffodil, Northwind Switch Grass, Napier Grass, Trevi Fountain Lungwort, Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan, Quickcover Yellow Sedum,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 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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The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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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!