araliaceae

Flowering ivy.

The araliaceae It is made up of about 50 genera and slightly less than 1000 species, in which are found plants as common as the ivy, chef and Aralia, and others also well known but less cultivated in gardening, such as ginseng. The common characteristics of the plants of this family are the palmate leaves and terminal umbel-shaped inflorescences.

Much of the family araliaceae They are trees with a very curious appearance, but that dry many branches when they bloom. For this reason, most of those that are grown are shrubs, with only a couple of especially striking trees. Next we will see characteristics and care of some of the plants of this family most used in gardening.

aralia elata (common aralia)Aralia elata in flower

This species grows forming a deciduous shrub with very vertical branches, very similar in appearance to an ailanthus or a sumac. Its leaves are compound bipinnateIn other words, each complete leaf is made up of a "branch" from which more "branches" emerge (like a fish bone), from which leaflets emerge (called pinnae or leaflets). It is curious that the leaves, plants that give name to the family araliaceae are so different from the rest of the species. Its inflorescences are not too showy, although they are when they are filled with reddish fruits. They do not usually reach 5m in height. It is indigenous to Japan and Korea, where it is used as food.

This in particular is not widely used in Spain, but it is used in the rest of Europe, and there are numerous cultivars with variegated leaves. The reason for this is that although it tolerates temperatures close to -30ºC (enough to grow it in most of Europe), it does not bear too well the heat and the lack of environmental humidity. You need soils that are always moist but well drained, although you do not care too much about pH or texture.

Cussonia paniculata (mountain cabbage tree)Cussonia paniculata in habitat, one of the most drought-resistant Araliaceae.

It is a shrub or small little branched seedling up to 3m or 5m, depending on the subspecies. Its trunk is quite thick, especially at the base, with a very striking bark. It inhabits southern Africa, for everything South Africa and southern Botswana. It only has leaves, which are quite large, at the end of the branches. The leaves are palmately compound, green or bluish in color. The subspecies paniculata is smaller, has smooth-edged leaves, and is only found in the Eastern Cape. The sinnuata subspecies is larger, has deeply lobed leaves and a wider distribution. Its inflorescences look like ears of corn held by sticks that come out of the end of the branches.

It is quite sought after for desert gardens due to its curious appearance and its resistance to cold (up to about -7ºC), heat and drought. It is also very interesting for caudiciform collections due to the caudex that it forms when young. You need very well draining soils that don't hold too much water. It prefers to be in full sun, but tolerates some shade.

Cussonia spicata (cabbage tree)

This species grows into a huge tree (up to 15m high), one of the largest in the whole family. araliaceae. They have quite a few branches, even fine branching, something very unusual in this family. Its leaves are doubly palmately compound (another palm leaves the end of each "finger"), bright green. The trunk has a thin bark, but it becomes very thick. The inflorescences are very similar to those of C. paniculata, but smaller and more numerous. Inhabit the humid areas of Southeast Africa.

It is not widely used in Spain because it does not withstand the cold very well (up to about -2ºC) and even in coastal areas it tends not to reach large sizes. It needs frequent waterings, especially when it is young. It is not very demanding with the soil, although it prefers them with good drainage.

Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia)

Fatsia japonica in flower

It becomes a bush about 2 or 3m high and slightly wider if it is in full sun. It has very shiny, dark green, webbed leaves. There are numerous variegated cultivars, the most popular being 'variegata' and 'spider's web'. This plant is usually formed by numerous unbranched stems that come out from the base, with leaves along all the branches, except in old specimens that have only at the end. Its inflorescences are identical to those of ivy, but more globose. Endemic to Japan.

One of the most used plants as an indoor plant, but it grows much better outdoors, where it prefers to be in semi-shade, but tolerates from full shade to full sun. It prefers cool and humid summers, so in warmer areas it is better to grow it in the shade. Regarding the substrate, you want it always moist but not wet, so it needs a decent drain. It can grow in any soil, but it does not tolerate too sandy or too high pH soil well. Withstands temperatures close to -10ºC.

Hedera helix (ivy)The ivy, a climber that needs little light

One of the most used climbing plants in gardening. The wild species can climb up to 10m in height (or up to the height of its support, where it hooks with adventitious roots), where it begins to put down thick branches, creating a kind of cup and flowering. It has two types of leaves, webbed, found on climbing stems, and others of a more elliptical shape found on flower stalks. There are all kinds of cultivars, with leaves of many different shapes and colors, and with three basic types of growth: that of an adult plant, the same as the wild ones; the juvenile plant (they keep the appearance of a wild ivy of a couple of years of age throughout their life), which are the dwarf cultivars that are used as a hanging plant; and the bushes, which always grow like flowering branches. The inflorescences are somewhat globose umbels, with white flowers, and are generally found only in the crown. It has a large area of ​​distribution, all of southern and western Europe, northern Africa and Asia, from India to Japan.

It is used both indoors and outdoors, but it will always grow better outdoors, where it forms impressive trunks. The climbing branches prefer to be in semi-shade, but if you want it to be filled with flowers, better in full sun, where it will form flower branches throughout the plant. Dwarf cultivars generally do not flower and grow best in semi-shade. It is not demanding with the type of soil or the climate, although it is advisable to water it in dry climates, especially if it is not in the shade, although it is drought tolerant. Cold hardiness depends on the cultivar, but generally tolerate temperatures below -10ºC, although with damage if they are exposed to wind and frost.

X Fatshedera lizei (aralia ivy)

It is often sold in nurseries identified as ivy. It is actually a hybrid of Hedera helix y Fatsia japonica, uniting the growth of both. It has webbed leaves similar to ivy, but more open. The same happens with its inflorescences. It grows into a shrub with weeping branches, similar to a bramble or a bougainvillea. It can be had as a climbing plant, but it will have to be tied, since it does not emit any type of support. There are several cultivars, but the most common are green and variegated, which are usually sold small.

Of care similar to the Fatsia japonica: semi-shade, always moist soil (although it withstands drought somewhat better), minimum of -10ºC...

Panax ginseng (ginseng)Panax ginseng in habitat

These are very small and inconspicuous plants, which tend to be no more than four or five leaves that come out of the ground. The only striking thing about this plant is its large tuberous root that can have a relatively human appearance (but not as much as the mandrake). It is not used in gardening, but it is used as a medicinal plant. Its leaves are palmately compound and its inflorescence a single globose umbel of white flowers. Its fruit is red. It grows in cold areas of Asia.

As for the care, it needs a loose soil with good drainage to develop the root well, with a slightly acidic pH. Withstands temperatures below -20ºC (up to about -40ºC if kept dry, otherwise it rots), but not the heat. It also does not support direct sun, so it needs to grow in shade or semi-shade. Regarding irrigation, it always wants a certain humidity in the substrate, but it cannot stand waterlogging.

Pseudopanax feroxPseudopanax ferox, a rare tree in the Araliaceae family

A very curious plant, endemic to New Zealand, which could be considered one of the rarest trees in the world. It begins by forming a straight stem, without branches, from which long, thin, brownish, rigid leaves with thorns emerge. At 10-15 years old, when it is about 4m tall, it begins to branch and grow shorter and wider leaves, without thorns, less rigid and of a more greenish hue. Once it acquires these characteristics, it can begin to bloom, forming globose inflorescences that go unnoticed. It reaches a maximum of 6m. The reason for this strange growth is an adaptation to avoid being eaten by moas, giant birds similar to recently extinct emus.

It needs a substrate with good drainage, but although its appearance suggests otherwise, it does not withstand drought, it needs the substrate that is always moist. It can be in full sun or semi-shade. Even if withstands temperatures close to -10ºC, it needs to be sheltered from cold winds.

Schefflera arboricola (chef)

View of Schefflera arboricola

Another very common houseplant. Outdoors, planted in the ground, it forms a large bush, a couple of meters high and about four meters wide, although in tropical climates it becomes a tree. Its leaves are palmatic-compound, dark green, although variegated specimens are usually sold, with light green leaves with yellow spots. It grows like a typical shrub, with branches branching from very low. The inflorescences are panicles that emerge radially, with yellow flowers and small multi-colored fruits. Native to Taiwan and Hainan.

They are very resistant plants that can withstand all types of soil, although they prefer well-drained plants. It also tolerates drought and excess water. It can be both in full sun and in semi-shade. In full shade it usually survives a few years, but does not grow well. Regarding cold resistance, holds a little less than -3ºC, but with damage, and the frost burns the leaves.

Schefflera actinophylla (octopus tree)Schefflera actinophylla inflorescences

Like the S. arboricolaIt is very common as an indoor plant, but this is much more normal to see outdoors in coastal areas. It becomes a medium tree with little branching, much taller than it is wide. Its leaves are palmatic-compound, but with a little more than 10 hanging and large "fingers" (leaflets), which gives it a very striking and tropical appearance. The inflorescences are huge radial tentacle-like panicles with pink flowers, which gives it the name of the octopus tree. It grows in the rainforests of Australia, New Guinea, and Java.

It needs well-drained soils and plenty of water while it is young. It tolerates some shade, but prefers to be in full sun, ideally with heat and high humidity. In theory it holds up to about -3ºC, but freezing to the base as soon as it drops below -1ºC, so it is only recommended to grow it in climates without frost.

Cold resistant cheflerasSchefflera delavayi, one of the most cold resistant chefs

Although they are not usually grown and are sold at high prices, there are many species of chefs that are very resistant to frost. Most of these species are shrubs or small little branched seedlings with compound palm leaves with fine leaflets, but there are some, such as Schefflera macrophylla, with leaves over 1m long and very wide leaflets. They usually inhabit cloud forests at high altitudes.

They usually need well-drained soils that are always kept moist and some shade. In addition, in general they do not tolerate heat unless there is high humidity, but most withstand temperatures below -10ºC.

Tetrapanax papyriferTetrapanax papyrifer, a tree of the Araliaceae family widely used in gardening

One of the plants that we will always find in the cold climate tropical gardens. It is a small, very little branched tree that rarely exceeds 4m in height. It has a rather striking cracked bark, but its interest lies in its huge somewhat webbed leaves. The entire plant is covered in a velvet that comes off to the touch and causes a cough if inhaled. When branching the size of the leaves is reduced, so it is usually recommended to leave only one branch. In adult plants, new plants emerge from the roots, so they can be somewhat invasive. It is one of the few plants of the family araliaceae deciduous, endemic to Taiwan.

They need a well-draining substrate that is always moist, and although they tolerate some shade, they prefer to be in full sun. They withstand heat quite well, and temperatures close to -10ºC. They hold a wide range of pH, but in basic soils they are very prone to iron chlorosis.

These are the most cultivated plants of the family araliaceae, although there are many other really interesting ones. Did you know them all? If you liked one, I invite you to buy it, there are many websites that sell them at a good price.


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