Japanese Angelica Tree

aralia elata

The Japanese Angelica Tree (Aralia elata) is a striking, fast-growing deciduous small tree native to East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and eastern Siberia. Known for its sparse branching habit and highly dramatic, umbrella-like silhouette, it commands immediate attention in its native forests. Its stems and branches are aggressively armored with sharp, stout prickles that serve as a strong defense against herbivores, earning it a reputation as a formidable barrier plant in natural ecosystems. In spring, the tree produces highly prized, edible young shoots known as 'tara-no-me' in Japan, which are traditionally harvested and deep-fried as tempura. As summer transitions to autumn, the tree is transformed by massive, cloud-like clusters of tiny white flowers that attract a wealth of pollinators, followed by clusters of small, dark-purple to black berries that feed migrating songbirds. Spot a Japanese Angelica Tree? Identify it instantly with the Snappit nature app.

Habitat: Found in open woodlands, forest edges, clearing margins, and disturbed areas where plenty of sunlight is available.

Appearance

The Japanese Angelica Tree typically grows 3 to 10 meters tall with a sparse, upright form and very few side branches. It features massive, doubly or triply compound pinnate leaves that can reach over a meter in length, giving the crown a lush, exotic appearance. The bark is light grey and heavily armed with sharp, stout prickles. In late summer, large terminal panicles of creamy-white flowers bloom, which later give way to small, glossy black spherical drupes arranged in dense, flat-topped clusters on purplish stems.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyAraliaceaeGenusAralia

Japanese Angelica Tree

Interesting facts

Due to its fierce defense of sharp prickles covering the stems, it is colloquially referred to as 'Devil's Walking Stick' in the United States, a name shared with its native North American relative.

In Japan, the young, tender spring shoots are known as 'tara-no-me' and are considered a supreme wild vegetable ('sansai'), typically fried as tempura.

In traditional East Asian medicine, various parts of the tree, especially the bark and roots, are used to treat joint pain, diabetes, and digestive issues.

Special abilities

The trunk, branches, and even the leaf stems are covered in sharp, stout prickles that deter large herbivores from feeding on its foliage.

The plant can easily sprout from root suckers, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed areas and recover quickly from physical damage.

Its late-season blooming period produces massive, nectar-rich flower panicles that provide a critical food source for bees and flies when other flowers are scarce.

Measurements & details

Length: 300-1000 cm
Lifespan: 20-40 years

Diet & Feeding

As a photoautotrophic plant, it manufactures its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through photosynthesis, supplemented by minerals absorbed through its root system.

Primary Foods

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Soil nutrients

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Birds consume the small, dark purple berries in autumn and disperse the seeds through their droppings.

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Bees, especially honey bees, heavily forage on the abundant nectar-producing flowers during late summer.

eaten by

Human

Homo sapiens

Humans harvest the tender young shoots in early spring as a culinary delicacy.

Traits

No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Japanese Angelica Tree?

The easiest way to identify Japanese Angelica Tree is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Japanese Angelica Tree?

300-1000 cm

How long does Japanese Angelica Tree live?

20-40 years

What does Japanese Angelica Tree eat?

As a photoautotrophic plant, it manufactures its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through photosynthesis, supplemented by minerals absorbed through its root system.

Where is Japanese Angelica Tree usually found?

Found in open woodlands, forest edges, clearing margins, and disturbed areas where plenty of sunlight is available.