woodland wildflower
American spikenard
Aralia racemosa
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Georgia, northern Arkansas and northeastern Kansas
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jul–Aug Flowering time
- Height up to 6 ft to 1.8 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for full sun and evenly moist soil. Its white flowers peak in July. At up to 6 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The American spikenard's white flowers bloom July to August, peaking in July. This midsummer display draws beetles and flower flies.
American spikenard blooms whiteFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Beetles Banded Longhorn Beetle also Strangalepta Flower Longhorn Beetle, Yellow-horned Flower Longhorn Beetle
- Flower flies Eastern Calligrapher also Tufted Globetail, Tapered Drone Fly
- Wasps Euodynerus foraminatus also Ancistrocerus capra
- Also visited by
- Bees: Pure Green Sweat bee, Modest Masked Bee
- Moths: White-striped Black
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (33): AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (6): MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Georgia, northern Arkansas and northeastern KansasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8 · Canadian 3–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, rich soilThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Water use
- MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 6 ft (to 1.8 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~4 ft (1.2 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jul–AugWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Aug–SepThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.