Kalopanax pictus is a large deciduous tree, usually growing 40-60 feet tall under cultivation.
As a young tree, it is upright, with an ungainly appearance, in age it rounds out, gains mass, and is quite impressive and almost tropical in appearance.
The bark on the stems is armed with large prickles, mature bark is almost black, with deep furrows. Foliage is similar to Liquidambar styraciflua in shape, dark green leaves above, lighter on undersides. Fall color is usually yellow, occasionally red, but not brilliant. Flowers are white, summer blooming, multitudinous, clustered into large flat umbel-panicles of 12-24 inches, highly attractive to bees. In fall a tiny black drupe appear, devoured by birds. It is an excellent shade tree in large areas, quite hardy and trouble free.
Native to Japan, parts of Russia, Korea, China.
Genus - Kalopanax
Species - Pictus
Common name - Castor Aralia
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 7
Height - 40'-100' / 12.2m - 30.5m
Spread - 15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Slow
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, laom, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average, moist
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Germination rate - 85%
Bloom season - Early Summer to Late Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green / White
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Soak in hot tap water for 24 hours. This soak may substitute for the warm stratification. 2. Cold stratify for 90 days in sterile soil or vermiculite in air tight bag at +2-+4C. 3. Sow seed 1/4" (5mm) deep, tamp the soil. Germination is very slow and can take much more than a few months. |