2020 Perennial of the Year: Aralia – ‘Sun King’

This year’s winner is Aralia ‘Sun King’ – it can be quite large, almost shrub-like (up to 6’ x 6’), and is very hardy for the Ottawa area. Who doesn’t need a bright yellow-gold leaf addition to a shady to part shade garden? It is fairly well behaved. If you are going to put this winner in the sun, it will need lots of water. The cream-coloured blooms are attractive to bees, airy and pretty; the deep purple-black berries are not edible. Known as deer resistant…but we always know that depends on what else the deer have to eat!