Kalopanax septemlobus
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Kalopanax pictus
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-oh-PA-naks sep-tem-LOH-bus
- Description
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Castor Aralia is a large flowering shade tree native to eastern Asia and the only large tree in the Aralia (Ivy) family. Under cultivation, a mature tree can reach a height of 60 feet with an equal spread; in the wild, it can reach 100 feet high in cool, moist forest environments. This low maintenance plant has thorns, showy white flowers that bloom in late summer, and black fruits. The large leaves resemble castor bean. The genus name comes from the Greek word kalos meaning beautiful and Panax, the name of a related genus. The species name means 7 lobes.
Castor Aralia prefers deep, moist, high organic matter and well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. The plant does tolerates light shade and is cold hardy, but does not do well in the hot and humid summers of the deep South. Avoid dry soils.
Young trees are armed with spines that tend to disappear from the trunk and larger branches as the tree matures. The tree is widely cultivated for timber in China.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious problems, but it can suffer in hot humid summers.
- 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:
- septemlobus
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The bark and the leaves are used as an insecticide.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Russian Far East to China and Eastern Asia
- Distribution:
- Introduced into New York.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy fruits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Spines
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- 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 Description:
- Profuse terminal, umbel-like panicles of tiny white flowers appear in July and August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green glossy toothed palmate leaves up to 14 inches wide with 5 to 7 lobes. The large leaves resemble castor beans. 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
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Mature bark is ridged, furrowed and dark gray.
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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
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
