Award-Winning Gold Foliage That Lights Up the Shade

Sun King Aralia (Aralia cordata 'Sun King') was named Perennial Plant of the Year, and one look explains why: it forms a bold, shrub-sized mound of brilliant golden-yellow foliage that brings sunshine to shady corners where bright color is hard to find. Spikes of tiny white flowers rise above the leaves in summer, followed by dark berries that birds enjoy, and the whole plant dies back to overwinter as a hardy perennial. Deer-resistant and dramatic, it's a showpiece for part-shade beds in Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury.

Landscape Uses

Use Sun King as a specimen or bold accent in shaded borders and woodland gardens, where its gold foliage brightens dark spots and contrasts with greens and burgundies. It pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and dark-leaved plants.

Best Time to Plant

Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help roots establish.

How to Plant

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill with compost-enriched soil, water thoroughly, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Give it room to reach its full, shrubby size.

Watering

First Year: Keep the soil consistently moist, watering 2–3 times per week.
After Year One: Water regularly, especially in heat; it prefers rich, evenly moist soil.
Drip Irrigation: A soaker hose or drip line keeps the root zone evenly moist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much sun does it need for the gold color?
A few hours of morning sun deepens the gold; in deep shade the foliage shifts toward chartreuse-green.

Does it come back as a perennial?
Yes, it dies back in winter and re-emerges each spring as a hardy perennial.

Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 4 and reliable across most of the state.

Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer tend to leave it alone.

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Pair Sun King with hostas, ferns, and dark-leaved shade plants for a bold, high-contrast woodland border.