Kalopanax pictus
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Acer pictum
- Kalopanax septemlobus
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-OH-pan-aks PIK-tus
- Description
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Castor aralia is a large, flowering tree, reaching 60 feet in height and is the only large tree in the ginseng family. In its native eastern Asia, this massive tree can reach 90 to 100 feet tall, is long lived and hardy, and uses its large leaves to cast a dense shade. The leaves are similar to castor beans, hence the common name. Tiny, 1 inch white flowers in dense 1 to 2 foot wide panicles appear in late summer. Fruits are attractive to birds. The genus name comes from the Greek word kalos meaning beautiful and Panax the name of a related genus. The species name means having 7 lobes, a characteristic of the leaves..
Castor aralia does best in deep, moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. It will tolerate light shade and drought, but is generally intolerant of hot and humid summers like those found in the deep South. It will not do well in dry soils.
The trunk, branches and the younger stems are armed with spines that tend to disappear from the trunk and larger branches as the tree matures. It has been grown in Europe and the United States as a "tropical" ornamental. It is cold hardy and can be cut back hard each year to control growth.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or disease problems. Thorns on branches may be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Kalopanax
- Species:
- pictus
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia: Japan, Central China, Tibet, Mongolia, Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the fruit. Flowers attract pollinators.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Tiny black fruits in compound clusters ripen in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny white flowers appear profusely in large, terminal, umbel-like panicles (12 to 24 inches wide) in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are from 7 to 12 inches long and wide with 5-7 lobes and range from reddish to yellow. Palmate, toothed, and glossy, the leaves turn dull yellow to red in fall, but are not particularly showy.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Dark gray bark is ridged and furrowed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
