Kalopanax septemlobus
Common name: 
Castor-aralia
Haragiri
Tree-aralia
Pronunciation: 
kal-oh-PAN-aks sep-TEM-lo-bus
Family: 
Araliaceae
Genus: 
Kalopanax
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree, 40-60 ft (12-18 m) tall and a similar spread, sparingly branched, branches stout, with numerous prickles (i.e., "thorns").  Leaves alternate, simple, 18-15 cm long, larger on young trees, 5 to 7 shallow lobes more or less triangular shaped, long pointed, leaf base cordate or rounded to nearly truncate, margin serrate, glossy, dark green; turn dull yellow to red in fall.  Flowers small, white to yellowish green, arranged in small clusters (1-2.5 cm) that combine to form terminal clusters (panicles) that are 30-60 cm across.  Fruit dark blue to black at maturity, globose, 3-5 mm across, contains 2 seeds.
  • Sun, adaptable to most moist soils.  Reportedly intolerant of hot and humid summers.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4      Native to Japan, Korea, China and far eastern Russia.
  • septemlobus: 7 lobes.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowering branch

    flowering branch

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • flower/fruit clusters and leaves

    flower/fruit clusters and leaves

  • flower/fruit cluster (& pollinators)

    flower/fruit cluster (& pollinators)

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark