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Acanthopanax henryi Nana - Henry's Aralia

Acanthopanax henryi Nana
Henry's Acanthopanax

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A dwarf form of a bush of Chinese origin, with a sculptural habit and elegant deciduous foliage. It is slightly thorny, hardy and easily adaptable to dry or wet soil, light or heavy, limestone or not, even poor. This Acanthopanax is very sturdy and tolerant of repeated pruning, well suited to shaded areas and can even be planted as a hedge. It is widely used in Chinese medicine.  
Flower size
5 cm
Height at maturity
1.30 m
Spread at maturity
1.30 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, October to December
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Flowering time June to July
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Description

Acanthopanax or Eleutherococcus henryi 'Nana' is a shorter form of Henry's Eleuthero. This lesser-known Asian bush, with a dense and elegant habit, is related to Japanese Aralia and is used in Chinese medicine. It has ornamental palmate foliage, discreet spring flowering, and decorative black fruiting. It can thrive in almost any growing conditions, which sometimes leads to severe pruning if it becomes too vigorous. This bush is cold-resistant, down to at least -15°C. It is rare in cultivation and differs from Eleutherococcus sieboldianus in having a more upright habit and more abundant fruiting.

Eleutherococcus henryi belongs to the Araliaceae family, just like ivy, ginseng, and tree angelica. It is native to central and southern China. In its native habitat, it can be found in fields, forests, along roadsides, and on mountain slopes. It can reach a height of 3.50m with sturdy stems bearing large thorns. Its good cold resistance, down to a minimum of -15°C, makes it adaptable to various climates. It has been reported to withstand temperatures as low as -20°C. Although it prefers moist soils, it can adapt to dry soils once established, but it does not tolerate waterlogged soils. This species also thrives in acidic, clayey, or humus-rich soils, and it tolerates urban pollution well. The plant is slow-growing and can produce suckers that are best removed. The deciduous leaves appear in spring and fall late in autumn. They are arranged in groups of 3 to 5 and attached to the branches by long green petioles. They are divided into 5 ovate, 3 to 6 cm long, green leaflets with strongly toothed edges. Near the leaf petioles, close to the nodes on the branch, there are small curved and pointed thorns. There are male and female plants. The flowering in June, consists of discreet and light white flowers. Only female specimens will have small black oval, quite decorative fruits after being pollinated by a male subject.

'Nana' is a dwarf form that reaches a height of 1.20m to 1.50m at maturity.

Eleutherococcus henryi 'Nana', while it can be planted in full sun, also tolerates slightly shaded areas of the garden and can be planted under trees and on the edge of woodland, where it develops over time. When exposed to the east or north, it can also be integrated into a loose or trimmed hedge with other shrubs. This medium-sized bush is suitable for many gardens, whether wild, exotic, Japanese-style, or English-style. In a hedge, it pairs well with privets or Ligustrum, as well as with botanical roses, spireas, Lonicera xylosteum honeysuckle, or winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima).

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.30 m
Spread at maturity 1.30 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time June to July
Inflorescence Umbel
Flower size 5 cm
Fruit colour black

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Acanthopanax

Species

henryi

Cultivar

Nana

Family

Araliaceae

Other common names

Henry's Acanthopanax

Botanical synonyms

Eleutherococcus henryi

Origin

China

Product reference202010

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Planting and care

Acanthopanax henryi 'Nana' is hardy enough to be grown in the ground in all regions. It can be planted in spring or autumn, in any garden soil, without excessive moisture. Once well established, it tolerates dry soils in summer, although it is more lush in soil that remains slightly moist. It tolerates limestone well, as it is a plant with few soil and exposure requirements: only waterlogged soils or excessively dry situations should be avoided. Choose a semi-shaded exposure, in the morning sun, or even shade. However, care should be taken to place it out of strong or drying winds to protect its ornamental foliage. Annoying suckers should also be removed unless you want this plant to colonise an undergrowth where nothing else grows. You can prune this bush to allow it to branch out and limit its size. A severe rejuvenation pruning is also recommended every 4 or 5 years, at the end of winter.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time March to May, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Border, Back of border, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Ordinary, well-prepared and cultivated.

Care

Pruning instructions You can perfectly prune this bush to allow it to branch and to limit its size. Severe pruning, for rejuvenation, is also recommended every 4 or 5 years at the end of winter.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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