Eat the roots, shoots & fruits –Spikenard– ornamental & edible garden plant. Thx Chesapeake Natives

Spikenard is an ornamental beauty that you can eat! Eat the roots, shoots & fruits. 12 Native American tribes had 83 documented uses!

American Spikenard, Aralia racemosa is native to North America. Japanese Spikenard, Aralia cordata is grown in Asia.

In Japan, young shoots are a delicacy in Japan. Shoots taste like asparagus.

#gardening #garden

American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Self-fertile: yes
Sun: full sun to part shade (dapple light in hot climate)
Water: medium
Soil: forgiving, but prefers fertile, humusy loams
Suggested Use: food, specimen plant, erosion control, shady locations.
Aralia racemosa has a long history with Native American. Twelve Native American tribes had approximately 80 documented uses of Aralia racemosa. The berries are edible, and young shoots are used as an herb in cooking, such as flavoring in soups. The roots are described as “Large and spicy … imparting a liquorice-like flavour…A substitute for sarsaparilla.”
We purchase her from Chesapeake Natives, Inc. http://chesapeakenatives.org/

Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata)
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Self-fertile: yes
Sun: full sun to part shade (dapple light in hot climate)
Water: medium
Soil: forgiving, but prefers fertile, humusy loams
Suggested Use: food, specimen plant, erosion control, shady locations.
Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata) farming in Japan is a serious business. The plant is called Udo (ウド) in Japan. It’s grown for its young shoots. Nanka Udo is Spikenard grown in tunnels (Softened Udo). Yama Udo is shoots harvested in the wild, or grown in greenhouses and in farms (Mountain Udo).
The Sun King plant is a cultivar of the Japanese Spikenard, Aralia cordata. Aralia Sun King is the most common variety of A. cordata sold in North America. Google ‘buy Japanese Spikenard’ or ‘buy Aralia cordata’ and you’ll see.
Also called, Sun King Spikenard, it has pale yellow foliage and is much less vigorous than the ‘parent’ species. However, the shoot REPORTEDLY have a milder flavor and harden off less quickly (A Food Forest in your Garden by Alan Carter). Aralia Sun King was introduced into the U.S. by Barry Yinger who reportedly found it in a department store nursery in Japan (Missouri Botanical Garden).

Learn more about Spikenard: https://heppy.org/spikenard
Watch our Playlist for Spikenard: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiRqd6MeiGbK9q6p2_rqaiu-i05MTtbg8

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our collection of 400+ edible plants grown organically: https://heppy.org/plants
see more about HEPPY™: https://heppy.org/
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