How Do You Care For Aralia Californica?

Aralia Californica is relatively easy to care for and it makes a great plant for beginners. It is best grown in large containers and is a good plant for those with little space around their house. In general, the Aralia Californica needs partial sunlight to shade, regular watering, and moist soil. It is a slow grower that may take several years to reach its full size.

The Aralia Californica plant’s adaptability is wide enough to grow in many different types of soil, such as sandy, loamy (or clay), rocky, acidic or alkaline, and saline soils. It is also drought tolerant but should be watered regularly once it reaches maturity. The following are the factors to consider when caring for Aralia Californica;

Sunlight:

Aralia Californica needs partial sunlight to shade. If the plant is not getting enough sun, this could be a sign of too much light and it could benefit from shadier areas in your garden that have shade, such as near trees or near buildings. The sun is what gives the tree its color and if it is over-exposed it may become bleached, limp, or discolored.

Watering:

Aralia Californica is a drought-tolerant plant and thrives in areas with low rainfall. It should be watered regularly during its first year of growth and kept moist. In the second year, it will learn to retain more water and you can reduce the amount of watering it needs.

After the plant matures, it only needs water when the soil is completely dry to promote rooting at the base of the plant. Otherwise, this is a good choice for areas that have less moisture.

Soil:

Aralia Californica needs well-draining soil and should be planted in a large container that has good drainage. The Aralia Californica plant is adaptable enough to thrive in a variety of soil types, including sandy, loamy (or clay), rocky, acidic or alkaline, and saline. To allow your Aralia Californica to flourish, it needs moist, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7. You should choose a location with the appropriate type of soil to get the best results.

Temperature:

Aralia Californica can tolerate temperatures ranging from 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 60 degrees can cause the tree to produce flower buds that are hard, brittle, and prone to frost damage. If temperatures remain too high, the Aralia Californica may become unhealthy and start losing leaves.

Humidity:

Aralia Californica can grow in moderate to high humidity, making it a good choice for coastal areas. You will want to keep your Aralia Californica plant in a warm area that is somewhat humid with good ventilation during the winter months. You can keep this plant outdoors during springtime, summertime, and fall for increased humidity.

Fertilizing:

Aralia Californica is an easy plant to care for. It does not require fertilizer but should receive an occasional helping of organic compost in the spring. The Aralia Californica is a very open-growing tree with a large root system and therefore does best when fertilized every 1-2 weeks a month or so as needed for nutrition.

Propagation:

Aralia Californica can be easily propagated by seeds, cuttings, and division. The seeds should be moist and not too warm. The Aralia Californica will also respond well to being transplanted into a larger container or pot as it grows. Propagation by division can be done in the spring after the plant is dormant but before it begins its growth cycle again. To do this, you will need to plant the division at the base of the plant.

Repotting:

Aralia Californica should be repotted every two to three years during the spring and summer. Depending on the size of the container it is in, you may need to move it into a larger pot. Repotting in winter is not recommended because the plant will go dormant during this time.

The Aralia Californica plant should be at least a few feet away from buildings and other plants, but close enough to receive adequate sunlight.

Pruning:

Aralia Californica is a very easy plant to care for. Pruning is required in early spring to rejuvenate the tree’s growth. Remove dead or damaged branches, cut off those that are too close to the trunk and remove too many branches for your desired shape. You can prune up to six inches from the end of each branch to promote branching.

Pests and Diseases:

Aralia Californica is vulnerable to many insect pests and diseases, including aphids, blight, canker disease, and powdery mildew. The use of pesticides might cause damage to the tree. To combat these problems, you should regularly monitor the location where your Aralia Californica is planted for insects and plant diseases. Doses of fungicide are not recommended because they may damage your plant as well as harm non-target organisms.

What Is Aralia Californica?

Aralia Californica, commonly known as elk clover despite not being a clover, is a big plant belonging to the Araliaceae family, the only member of the ginseng family endemic to California and southern Oregon. California aralia is also known as California spikenard.

It is a deciduous, herbaceous, perennial plant that grows to a height of 2–3 m on thick, non-woody stems. The stems bear huge green pinnately complex or tri-pinnately compound leaves 1–2 m in length and 1 m in width, with leaflets measuring 15–30 cm in length and 7–15 cm in width.

The leaflets are stacked opposite one another, with an odd leaflet at the end. The greenish-white flowers are produced in enormous compound racemes of umbels 30–45 cm in diameter at the top of the stem; each bloom is 2–3 mm in diameter and develops into little (3–5 mm) dark purple or black fruit, with 3–5 seeds per berry.

It is widespread across western and central California, as well as Oregon. It is more prevalent in northern California’s colder, wetter regions, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area. The berries of the shrub are consumed by birds.

This plant is occasionally replaced by other species of its genus that are used medicinally, such as American spikenard and Japanese spikenard. Preparation of the root has been used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory, cough suppressor, and arthritis treatment.

How Do You Propagate Aralia Californica?

Aralia Californica is propagated by seed and may also be grown from cuttings and division. Seeds should be scattered over the soil, but not buried. Disturb the soil as little as possible when sowing seeds. Water the young plants occasionally to ensure their survival.

Use the top 10 inches of an aralia plant in the summer to take softwood, or green-tip, cuttings. Remove the bulk of the leaves from the base of the stems, and then set them upright in a container with moist, sandy soil. Following a few days, the stems will begin rooting. The following are the steps to follow;

Propagation from cuttings;

• Take a cutting from the rootstock, about 50% of the stem when it is young.
• Plant tip downward in soil, and keep moist but not wet.
• Root formation will take 3–6 weeks, depending on variety and location.
• After root formation has taken place, keep the stem partially covered up to encourage a second flush of roots and new growth.
• Move plant to shade or indoors (find a suitable spot with bright indirect light).
• Water sparingly as the plant grows.
• When the plant is well established, move outdoors.
• Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer; not needed until after the first flush of growth and new roots are formed.
• Take additional cuttings to increase stock plants or transplant them to a larger container or into the ground when necessary in 2–3 years depending on variety and location.

Propagation from seed;

• Sow seeds outdoors in the fall, about 3–4 weeks before the first frost.
• Keep moist until germination occurs (15–30 days).
• Transplant to larger pots as necessary, once roots have reached the bottom of the container and new growth is evident.
• Move to a well-lit area indoors or outdoors when plants are established (around 2 years).
• Transplant outdoors when the weather is cold, before the first frost.
• Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer; not needed until after the first flush of growth and new roots are formed.

Propagation from division;

• Divide older plants in the fall, as stems die back.
• Transplant to larger pots as necessary, when roots have reached the bottom of the container and new growth is evident.
• Keep leaves on the divisions young to avoid scorching.
• When younger stems have three shoots, cut off the excess for propagation and overwintering in a cold frame or sunny window.
• Transplant spring to spring at a depth of 1 inch and keep moist until roots are well established (about 2 weeks).
• Move to a well-lit area indoors or outdoors when plants are established (around 2 years).
• Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer; not needed until after the first flush of growth and new roots are formed.
• Take additional cuttings to increase stock plants or transplant them to a larger container or into the ground when necessary in 2–3 years depending on variety and location.