Common Name: American Spikenard

General Information

Aralia racemosa is a herbaceous perennial plant with somewhat woody stems; it can grow 60 - 250cm tall from a large, aromatic rootstock[].
The plant is often used in modern herbalism, usually harvested from the wild and often traded. It is also harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Southern Ontario to New Brunswick, south to Arkansas, Missisippi and Georgia

Habitat

Rich deciduous forests, wooded slopes, ravines, moist bluffs, riverside forests, creeksides, and streamsides; at elevations from 100 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.80 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Aralia racemosa is a very cold-tolerant plant, especially when dormant. The young growth in spring however, even on mature plants, is frost-tender. It is best to grow the plants in a position that is sheltered from the early morning sun in spring[].
An easily grown plant, succeeding in sun or part shade in any fertile soil[]. Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[, , ]. Requires a sheltered position[]. Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils[].
Grows well by water[].

Edible Uses

Young shoot tips - cooked[]. Used as a potherb[] or as a flavouring in soups[].

Root - cooked. Large and spicy, it is used in soups[, , , ]. Pleasantly aromatic, imparting a liquorice-like flavour[]. A substitute for sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.)[], it is also used in making 'root beer'[].

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Pleasant and wholesome to eat[]. They can be made into a jelly[, ]. The fruit is about 4mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

American spikenard is a sweet pungent tonic herb that is often used in modern herbalism where it acts as an alterative[]. It had a wide range of traditional uses amongst the North American Indians and was at one time widely used as a substitute for the tropical medicinal herb sarsaparilla[, ].

The root is alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and stimulant[, , , ]. The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism etc[, , , ]. A drink made from the pulverised roots is used as a cough treatment[].
Externally, the root is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism and skin problems such as eczema[, , , ].

A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc[, ].

The plant is used in homeopathy as a remedy for asthmatic conditions[].

The root is collected in late summer and the autumn and dried for later use[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this.
Root cuttings 8cm long, early winter in a cold frame[, ]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in early to mid spring. High percentage[].
Division of suckers in late winter[]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.