Sun King Udo (Aralia cordata 'Sun King')
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Deciduous Perennial Upright, Mounding | |||||
Buy Sun King Udo | |||||
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Aralia cordata 'Sun King' is a striking and versatile native perennial that brings both visual interest and ecological benefits to the garden. This cultivar of the Japanese spikenard features bold, tropical-looking foliage that emerges in a vibrant, golden-yellow hue in spring, creating a stunning contrast against darker-leaved plants. As the season progresses, the large, compound leaves gradually take on a chartreuse-green tone, maintaining their eye-catching presence throughout the growing season. In late summer, 'Sun King' produces clusters of small, white flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The foliage then transitions to an attractive yellow in autumn before eventually dying back to the ground for the winter. Reaching 3-4 feet tall and wide, this Aralia cultivar has an upright, clumping habit that makes it well-suited for use as an accent plant, in mixed borders, or in shade gardens. Adaptable to a range of soil types and growing conditions, from full sun to partial shade, 'Sun King' is a low-maintenance perennial that provides three-season interest and valuable habitat for local wildlife. Its bold, color-changing foliage and pollinator-friendly flowers make it a standout choice for sustainable, native-focused landscape designs. |
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Plant Data | |||||
Mature Size | 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide. | ||||
Growth Rate | Fast | ||||
Sun Exposure | Full Shade - Partial Sun | ||||
Moisture Tolerance | Medium | ||||
Zones | 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F) | ||||
Tags | Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fast Growth Rate, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Shrub, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil | ||||
Bloom Period | July-September | ||||
Flower Color | White | ||||
Foliage Color | Golden Yellow
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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, Purple Fountain Grass, Trevi Fountain Lungwort, Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan, Quickcover Yellow Sedum, |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
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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Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.
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!