Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Aralia nudicaulis (Wild sarsaparilla)
Kutcher, Daniel

Aralia nudicaulis L.

Wild sarsaparilla

Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)

USDA Symbol: arnu2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A single leaf stalk grows 18-24, dividing into three parts each with five oval leaflets. A separate stalk, shorter than the leaf stalk, bears ball-shaped clusters of tiny, greenish-white flowers followed in fall by dark purple berries. The leafless flower stem, topped with clusters of greenish-white flowers, is beneath a large, umbrella-like leaf. Often grows in colonies from extensive rootstock. The species name, from the Latin nudus (naked) and cauli (stalk), refers to the leafless flowerstalk.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Leaf: Dark Green
Flower: Flowers 1.5-2 in.
Fruit: Black, Purple
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Transcontinental Canada, s. to GA mts., OH, IL, MN, SD & n.w. MT
Native Habitat: dry to moist woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Poorer, relatively dry, soils.
Conditions Comments: Can become aggressive. Rootstock is used as a substitute for official sarsaparilla flavoring.

Benefit

Use Food: The rhizome is aromatic and was used as emergency food by First Nations People (Clough). The root was used to make root beer and can be made into a tea. The aromatic rhizomes of this plant are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Divide the creeping rootstock while the plant is dormant. Sarsaparilla can be grown from seed sown when ripe, but seedlings mature slowly.
Seed Collection: Seeds can be recovered fro the fruit by maceration and flotation.
Seed Treatment: Seeds may require cool-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Aralia nudicaulis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Aralia nudicaulis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aralia nudicaulis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-11-26
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back