| Castor-Aralia - Kalopanax pictus Ivy or Ginseng Family: Araliaceae Also commonly called castor-leaved aralia. USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 7 [3] Tree Encyclopedia | Trees Index | Fruit Trees | Nut Trees | Maples |
 Castor-leaved aralia has wicked thorns up to 1 cm long on bark and twigs. |
Family Araliaceae - Ivy or Ginseng Family The Araliaceae comprise about 70 genera and 700 species of flowering shrubs, trees, climbing vines and herbs. The fruit is a berry or (rarely) a drupe (one-seeded fruit). Castor-aralia is native to China, Korea and Japan. A slow-growing deciduous tree growing to 60 ft. and spreading equally wide under cultivation, young trees have a coarse, open growth habit. Mature trees fill in their branches and foliage into a robust, rounded crown forming dense shade. One-inch diameter flowers appear in dense, 12 to 24-inch-long terminal panicles and attract quite a few bees. The small black fruit which ripens in early fall is eagerly consumed by birds. Autumn colors are not showy, faint red [3]. (I'll try to visit this tree in the fall.)  Castor aralia has 5-7 lobed leaves |
A long-lived tree, Castor-Aralia should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil but will tolerate alkaline soil. Seeds germinate readily in the landscape. The large size and coarse texture make it best suited for large-scale landscapes, such as golf courses, parks, business complexes and campuses. [3] Young (this one is 23 years old) Castor-aralia are known for a gaunt habit. |
References: |
 |
Tree Encyclopedia Trees live longer than any other organism on earth, and trees are the largest organisms on the planet. Trees have been living on Earth for more than 370 million years, and today can be found almost everywhere from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara Desert. Explore over 2,000 large pictures of trees in more than 450 species, with leaves, bark and form detailed. Tree Encyclopedia | Trees Index | Fruit Trees | Nut Trees | Plant a tree! |
