Aralia Sun King
Big Golden Leaves That Light Up Shady Spaces
Sun King Aralia is a dramatic foliage perennial grown for its large chartreuse-to-gold leaves and bold, shrub-like presence in shade and part-shade gardens. This standout plant brings a bright tropical look to woodland beds, shaded borders, and mixed perennial plantings where darker green foliage can feel heavy or flat.
Unlike smaller shade plants used mainly as ground-level fillers, Sun King Aralia creates height, structure, and a true focal point. Its broad compound leaves emerge bright and luminous, holding their best color with part shade and a few hours of gentle sun. It is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a shade perennial that feels bold, fresh, and architectural.
Golden Foliage with Late-Season Flowers and Berries
The main attraction is the foliage, but Sun King Aralia can also produce airy clusters of small white flowers in mid to late summer. These blooms add a soft seasonal touch above the leaves and may be followed by dark purplish to black berries that bring additional interest later in the season.
Foliage color can shift with the light. In brighter part shade, the leaves tend to hold stronger gold and chartreuse tones. In a heavier shade, the color may become more lime green, while too much hot, direct sun without moisture can stress the plant. This makes site selection important for the best color and performance.
A Strong Anchor for Woodland Gardens, Shade Borders, and Mixed Beds
Sun King Aralia works beautifully as a middle-to-back border plant, a woodland garden anchor, a shade garden focal point, or a bold companion to hostas, ferns, heuchera, astilbe, ligularia, brunnera, and dark-leaved perennials. Its size and color help create contrast, especially in beds where many plants have finer texture or deeper green foliage.
Use it as a single specimen when a single bright focal point is needed, or repeat it within a larger shaded border for rhythm. Because it can grow into a large perennial clump, give it room to mature. It is especially useful near shaded patios, woodland paths, foundation beds with morning sun, and garden corners that need height without a woody shrub.
Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly, and Best with Consistent Moisture
Sun King Aralia is generally considered deer resistant, making it a valuable option for shade gardens where deer often browse hostas and other tender foliage plants. Deer resistance can vary by location and pressure, but this plant is a strong, lower-risk choice when gardeners need bold foliage in challenging landscapes.
Its summer flowers can attract pollinators, and the berries may provide seasonal interest for birds. This plant is not drought-tolerant, so it performs best with consistent moisture in rich, well-drained soil. For the best results, treat it like a lush woodland perennial rather than a dry-shade survivor.
Easy Care with Part Shade, Rich Soil, and Room to Grow
Plant Sun King Aralia in part shade to light shade with moist, organically rich, well-drained soil. It can tolerate some sun if moisture is consistent, but it should be protected from hot, dry afternoon conditions. Adding compost at planting helps support the deep, rich soil conditions this perennial prefers.
Water regularly after planting and continue watering during dry spells, especially in the first growing season. Sun King Aralia dies back to the ground in winter and re-emerges in spring, quickly building size as temperatures warm. Cut old stems back after frost or in early spring before new growth appears.
Big Golden Leaves That Light Up Shady Spaces
Sun King Aralia is a dramatic foliage perennial grown for its large chartreuse-to-gold leaves and bold, shrub-like presence in shade and part-shade gardens. This standout plant brings a bright tropical look to woodland beds, shaded borders, and mixed perennial plantings where darker green foliage can feel heavy or flat.
Unlike smaller shade plants used mainly as ground-level fillers, Sun King Aralia creates height, structure, and a true focal point. Its broad compound leaves emerge bright and luminous, holding their best color with part shade and a few hours of gentle sun. It is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a shade perennial that feels bold, fresh, and architectural.
Golden Foliage with Late-Season Flowers and Berries
The main attraction is the foliage, but Sun King Aralia can also produce airy clusters of small white flowers in mid to late summer. These blooms add a soft seasonal touch above the leaves and may be followed by dark purplish to black berries that bring additional interest later in the season.
Foliage color can shift with the light. In brighter part shade, the leaves tend to hold stronger gold and chartreuse tones. In a heavier shade, the color may become more lime green, while too much hot, direct sun without moisture can stress the plant. This makes site selection important for the best color and performance.
A Strong Anchor for Woodland Gardens, Shade Borders, and Mixed Beds
Sun King Aralia works beautifully as a middle-to-back border plant, a woodland garden anchor, a shade garden focal point, or a bold companion to hostas, ferns, heuchera, astilbe, ligularia, brunnera, and dark-leaved perennials. Its size and color help create contrast, especially in beds where many plants have finer texture or deeper green foliage.
Use it as a single specimen when a single bright focal point is needed, or repeat it within a larger shaded border for rhythm. Because it can grow into a large perennial clump, give it room to mature. It is especially useful near shaded patios, woodland paths, foundation beds with morning sun, and garden corners that need height without a woody shrub.
Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly, and Best with Consistent Moisture
Sun King Aralia is generally considered deer resistant, making it a valuable option for shade gardens where deer often browse hostas and other tender foliage plants. Deer resistance can vary by location and pressure, but this plant is a strong, lower-risk choice when gardeners need bold foliage in challenging landscapes.
Its summer flowers can attract pollinators, and the berries may provide seasonal interest for birds. This plant is not drought-tolerant, so it performs best with consistent moisture in rich, well-drained soil. For the best results, treat it like a lush woodland perennial rather than a dry-shade survivor.
Easy Care with Part Shade, Rich Soil, and Room to Grow
Plant Sun King Aralia in part shade to light shade with moist, organically rich, well-drained soil. It can tolerate some sun if moisture is consistent, but it should be protected from hot, dry afternoon conditions. Adding compost at planting helps support the deep, rich soil conditions this perennial prefers.
Water regularly after planting and continue watering during dry spells, especially in the first growing season. Sun King Aralia dies back to the ground in winter and re-emerges in spring, quickly building size as temperatures warm. Cut old stems back after frost or in early spring before new growth appears.
Original: $29.95
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$8.98Description
Big Golden Leaves That Light Up Shady Spaces
Sun King Aralia is a dramatic foliage perennial grown for its large chartreuse-to-gold leaves and bold, shrub-like presence in shade and part-shade gardens. This standout plant brings a bright tropical look to woodland beds, shaded borders, and mixed perennial plantings where darker green foliage can feel heavy or flat.
Unlike smaller shade plants used mainly as ground-level fillers, Sun King Aralia creates height, structure, and a true focal point. Its broad compound leaves emerge bright and luminous, holding their best color with part shade and a few hours of gentle sun. It is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a shade perennial that feels bold, fresh, and architectural.
Golden Foliage with Late-Season Flowers and Berries
The main attraction is the foliage, but Sun King Aralia can also produce airy clusters of small white flowers in mid to late summer. These blooms add a soft seasonal touch above the leaves and may be followed by dark purplish to black berries that bring additional interest later in the season.
Foliage color can shift with the light. In brighter part shade, the leaves tend to hold stronger gold and chartreuse tones. In a heavier shade, the color may become more lime green, while too much hot, direct sun without moisture can stress the plant. This makes site selection important for the best color and performance.
A Strong Anchor for Woodland Gardens, Shade Borders, and Mixed Beds
Sun King Aralia works beautifully as a middle-to-back border plant, a woodland garden anchor, a shade garden focal point, or a bold companion to hostas, ferns, heuchera, astilbe, ligularia, brunnera, and dark-leaved perennials. Its size and color help create contrast, especially in beds where many plants have finer texture or deeper green foliage.
Use it as a single specimen when a single bright focal point is needed, or repeat it within a larger shaded border for rhythm. Because it can grow into a large perennial clump, give it room to mature. It is especially useful near shaded patios, woodland paths, foundation beds with morning sun, and garden corners that need height without a woody shrub.
Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly, and Best with Consistent Moisture
Sun King Aralia is generally considered deer resistant, making it a valuable option for shade gardens where deer often browse hostas and other tender foliage plants. Deer resistance can vary by location and pressure, but this plant is a strong, lower-risk choice when gardeners need bold foliage in challenging landscapes.
Its summer flowers can attract pollinators, and the berries may provide seasonal interest for birds. This plant is not drought-tolerant, so it performs best with consistent moisture in rich, well-drained soil. For the best results, treat it like a lush woodland perennial rather than a dry-shade survivor.
Easy Care with Part Shade, Rich Soil, and Room to Grow
Plant Sun King Aralia in part shade to light shade with moist, organically rich, well-drained soil. It can tolerate some sun if moisture is consistent, but it should be protected from hot, dry afternoon conditions. Adding compost at planting helps support the deep, rich soil conditions this perennial prefers.
Water regularly after planting and continue watering during dry spells, especially in the first growing season. Sun King Aralia dies back to the ground in winter and re-emerges in spring, quickly building size as temperatures warm. Cut old stems back after frost or in early spring before new growth appears.
