Aralia bipinnata

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 7m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12, 13

Family: Araliaceae

Aralia bipinnata, commonly known as Chinese or Korean Angelica Tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree with an upright, spreading habit. Its branches are upright with prickles. Its large mid green leaves are pinnately compound, these form large crowns at the ends of the upright branches. Aralia bipinnata is native to Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In its native habit it grows in open forest vegetation. Its white flowers appear as a large panicle, appearing from the branch tip and are attractive to pollinating insects. Its small black fruit are attractive to birds. Aralia bipinnata may be used a specimen plant due to its exotic appearance.

Aralia bipinnata (05/05/12 Kew Gardens, London)

Aralia bipinnata Leaf (05/05/12 Kew Gardens, London)

Landscape Architecture

Dendropanax trifidus

Dendropanax trifidus (01/04/2015, Nezu Museum, Tokyo, Japan)

Position: Partial shade to shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 2.5m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Araliaceae

Dendropanax trifidus is an evergreen small tree or large shrub with an upright, oval habit . Its dark green glossy with the juvenile leaves being palmate with entire margins, generally have three lobes, up to 12cm long and 12cm wide. Its mature leaves are ovate with shallow lobes and entire margins, up to 12cm long and 8cm broad. In the winter months its leaves turn red/ burgundy in colour. Its green/ white flowers appear as terminal umbels which are up to 2cm across. Its fruit are ellipsoid, initially green, turning black with age, up to 8mm long.

Dendropanax trifidus, commonly known as Tree Ivy, is native to Japan and Taiwan. In its native habitat this plant grows in forests and thickets. This plant may cause irritation to sensitive skin.

The etymological root of the binomial name Dendropanax is derived from the Greek dendron ‘a tree’ and Panax another genus of plant. Trifidus is from the Latin meaning ‘divided to form three prongs’.

The landscape architect may find Dendropanax trifidus useful as a large attractive foliage shrub for shaded locations.

Dendropanax trifidus Leaf (01/04/2015, Nezu Museum, Tokyo, Japan)

Ecologically, Dendropanax trifidus flowers are attractive to polinating insects. Its berries are attractive to some birds.

Dendropanax trifidus prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils and drought conditions.

Dendropanax trifidus requires little maintenance.

Hedera helix

 

Hedera helix (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering period: Late summer to late autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30m (climbing)

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Araliaceae

Hedera helix Juvenile Leaf (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Hedera helix is a fast growing evergreen climbing shrub with a self clinging climbing growth habit. Its dark green leaves appear as two forms, adult and juvenile. Its juvenile leaves are palmately lobed with entire margins up to 10cm long and 7cm broad, these appear on creeping or climbing stems. Its adult leaves are cordate with entire margins, these appear on fertile flowering stems at the top of a climbing plant as it reaches light conditions. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets which appear from the stems and cling to suitable surfaces. Green/ yellow hermaphrodite flowers are produced in late summer to late autumn and are appear as umbles which are up to 5cm across. The fruit of the plant is a purple/ black berry which is up to 6mm across, these ripen in late winter. These seeds are dispersed by birds which have eaten the berries.

Hedera helix, commonly known as Common Ivy, English Ivy, European Ivy or Ivy is native to the most of Europe (including the UK) and Western Asia. In its native habitat it grows in deciduous woodlands and woodland edges appearing as a ground cover and clinging to tree trunks. It is labeled as an invasive species in a number of areas where it has been introduced, including many parts of the United States, parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Hedera helix Adult leaf (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

The etymology of the binomial name  Hedera is derived from the ancient Latin name for Ivy. Helix is derived from the Greek meaning spiral or twisted.

The landscape architect may find Hedera helix useful for planting on banks and slopes to stabilise them. It may form a component of a native (UK) woodland understory planting mix. It will tolerate poor urban conditions and is drought tolerant.

Hedera helix Berries (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Ecologically, Hedera helix flowers are attractive to bees, flies and species of lepidoptera in late autumn. Its fruit are attractive to birds.

Hedera helix prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Hedera helix requires little maintenance. Pruning of the growing tips may be required to stop it spreading into unwanted areas. If it is used as a ground cover at the base of trees, shoots which start to climb the trunk of the tree should be cut to ground level once a year.