Aralia cordata is an upright herbaceous perennial plant growing up to in height, native to Japan, Korea and eastern China. Its common names include spikenard, herbal aralia, udo (from ), Japanese spikenard, and mountain asparagus. It is commonly found on the slopes of wooded embankments. Aralia cordata is a species of Aralia in the family Araliaceae. The plant yields new shoots every spring, which are blanched and then eaten as a vegetable. In Korea, the dried root of the plant has been traditionally used as medicine. The young shoots have a strong yet pleasant distinct aromatic flavor. In addition to food and medicinal use, the plant is cultivated as an ornamental. Description Aralia cordata is classified as a dicot and a eudicot. The leaves are alternate, large, and double to triple pinnate with leaflets long, and broad. The flowers are produced in large umbels of diameter in late summer, each flower small and white. The fruit is a small black drupe diameter, and may be toxic to humans. In the wild, the plant achieves a height of . It has golden leaves in the spring and an abundance of large bright green ones in the summer. It has a hefty and plump root stock with shoots in length. It can reach optimal growth when planted in rich soil. During the summer it produces loose flower bunches in length, which are attractive to bees and flies, making it ideal for beekeepers. It can be grown using seed or propagated from cuttings. History Aralia cordata is widely grown for food in Japan. In the early 1900s it was imported into the United States; however, it did not become popularly commercialized. In Korea, the dried root has been traditionally used as medicine to treat inflammation, fever and pain. Cultivation Growing conditions Aralia cordata can be grown in normal, sandy, or clay soil with a neutral or acidic content of pH 5.0 to 7.5. Organic material should be added to clays and sands. It is an easy plant to grow, and does not require fertilizer. The plant grows rapidly, attaining a size up to in height and width in a single growing season. It can tolerate freezing temperatures during winter, as it dies back and then re-grows in the spring, yielding for six years or more. It requires little labor; however the shoots require blanching if intended for food use. It must be grown