Japanese spikenard 'Sun King'
Aralia cordata
1,1 m       1,2 m      Hardiness zone 3   

Incandescent, the Japanese spikenard ‘Sun King’ (Aralia cordata) shines with its large lemon-yellow leaflets in the sun, rather lime green under the canopy of an airy nourishing forest. The flowers in small white pompoms do not have time to ripen fruits in the north. ‘Sun King’ is a contrasting selection and of reduced vigor, but which does not let itself be imposed! With prolonged harvests of softer shoots, remaining tender longer than the wild vegetable, it also has the advantage in cooking. It finds its comfort in a wide range of soils, ignored by white-tailed deer, who, like us, are not used to this spring vegetable prized in Japan and Korea.

Called Udo, which translates as mountain asparagus, you can eat it like this, for its shoots with juicy and crispy tender hearts. Unless you are armed with patience and a good Japanese knife, you can keep the skin, with its resinous lemon zest flavors, advantageously balanced in stir-fries, tempura or miso soup. You can reduce the bitterness by blanching, marinating or lacto-fermenting them. It is easier to integrate into the plate than in landscaping, where you will need good planning to fill a large gap both in the spring, before it awakens, and in the fall, when it is among the first victims of the cold.

The Japanese spikenard ‘Sun King’ finds its comfort in a wide range of soils, where it settles deeply, for a long time, unless you can refrain from picking its offshoots each time it grows. It is also not likely to invade you, especially if you dig from time to time around its main crown a few fleshy roots. Fresh or dried, grated in salad and tasty in soup, they offer a spicy and bitter flavor that replaces ginger.

Our inventories are updated daily. If the quantities are lower than your needs, do not hesitate to contact us by email at pepiniere@paysagegourmand.ca or by phone at 450-834-1919 ext. #2.