Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool

Japanese angelica tree

Aralia elata

(Miq.) Seem

Taxon, Habit: Plant, Tree

Habitat: Terrestrial

U.S. Nativity: Introduced

Species Synonym(s): None

Common Name(s): None

Family: Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)

Family Synonym(s): None

Native Range (GRIN):

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Tree

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Foliage

John Ruter, University of Georgia

Foliage

John Ruter, University of Georgia

Foliage

John Ruter, University of Georgia

Foliage

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Foliage

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Flower

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Flower

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Description

Appearance
Aralia elata is a deciduous thicket forming tree or shrub, up to 40 ft. tall with an irregular form. It has a spreading habit and can be multi or single stemmed. The bark is covered in sharp thorns.
Foliage
The leaves are alternate and 2 to 3 times pinnately compound with toothed or mostly toothless margins. The leaflets are from 2-4.75 in. long with the entire leaf from 2-4 ft. long. The main leaf veins extend to the leaf edge with spines along the leaf axils.
Flowers
The whitish to cream colored flowers are borne in a large inflorescence from 12-24 in. long. The inflorescence is multi-stemmed and is often wider than tall. It blooms from about late July to August.
Fruit
Fruits are small purple to black berries appearing August to September and ripening from September to October.
Ecological Threat
Aralia elata can be found in a variety of different habitat types such as forest, shrub land, meadow, and landscaping. It is highly threatening to native plant communities.

Uses

Landscape Ornamental Use (GRIN): Yes

All Uses (GRIN):

Distribution Map (EDDMapS)

Wetland Indicator

Summary: Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata) is a Terrestrial species.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (AGCP):

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain regions

No Data

Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP):

Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Mountain regions

No Data

Northcentral and Northeast (NCNE):

Northern parts of PA and NJ (and beyond)

No Data


Legend (data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

OBL (Obligate wetland): Almost always occurs in wetlands (estimated probability > 99%) under natural conditions

FACW (Facultative wetland): Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands

FAC (Facultative): Equally likely to occur in wetlands (estimated probability 34% - 66%) or non-wetlands

FACU (Facultative upland): Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1% - 33%)

UPL (Obligate upland): Occur almost always (estimated probability > 99%) in non-wetlands under natural conditions

Taxonomic Rank

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Aralia
Subject: Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem

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