Kalopanax septemlobus

Despite its rather exotic appearance, the tree aralia, Kalopanax septemlobus, is a hardy, deciduous and highly ornamental tree. The leaves of Kalopanax septemlobus are highly variable in terms of how lobed they are – some plants will have leaves that are very deeply lobed, whereas others will not.

As a relative of ivy, it produces pollinator-friendly flowers held in umbels, followed by black berries that attract birds. Stems are spiny when young, becoming less so as they mature. In gardens, it can either be left to grow into a large tree, or it can be cut back hard each year to produce larger leaves, as you can do with catalpa, cotinus and paulownia. In autumn, the leaves turn vivid shades of orange and yellow before falling.

For best results, grow Kalopanax septemlobus in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.