Acanthopanax sieboldianus Variegatus

The Variegated Acanthopanax sieboldii, also called Eleutherococcus sieboldianus, is a lesser-known cousin of Japanese Aralias. It is a very cold-resistant Asian bush with a beautiful variegated foliage, and adapts to almost all growing conditions. It can be pruned and mowed if it grows too large. Its spring flowering is light and insignificant, but this bush is interesting for its palmate foliage margined with white-cream and remarkable in shade. It is perfect for adding a touch of light to dark areas of the garden, for example, under large trees or near a north-facing wall. 

The Variegated Acanthopanax sieboldianus belongs to the Araliaceae family, just like ivy and tree angelica. This shrub is native to forests in China. Escaped from gardens in Japan, it has naturalized on limestone soils. Its cold resistance, below -15°C (5°F), allows it to be cultivated in all climates. While it prefers moist soils, it adapts to dry soils once well established, in summary, it only dislikes waterlogged soils. Acidic or clay soils also suit it very well. Urban pollution is well tolerated. It only dislikes scorching situations.

'Variegatus' is a highly ornamental form of this botanical species, which is distinguished by its more modest growth, its variegated foliage, and its excellent tolerance to dry shade. Still little known it should quickly find a place in our gardens. The slow-growing bush will reach an average size of 2m (6.5ft) in all directions. It may produce suckers that need to be eliminated to limit its growth or if their leaves do not have variegation. Its habit is bushy, both dense and elegant, supported by thin, arched, light grey branches. The deciduous leaves appear in spring and fall in autumn, quite late. They are grouped in 3 to 5 and attached to the branch by long green petioles. They are divided into 5 ovate leaflets, 3 to 6cm (1.2 - 2.4in) long, with a pointed tip, strongly dentate on the edges. They are randomly margined and splashed with white cream on a tender green-grey background. At the base of the leaf petioles, at the nodes on the branch, small curved and sharp spines are hidden. In this Acanthopanax, there are male and female individuals. Flowering occurs in June, earlier or later depending on the climate, in the form of clusters of small pale greenish-yellow flowers, which bring a touch of lightness to the plant. Female plants will bear small ovoid fruits that are black and quite decorative.

This Variegated Eleutherococcus sieboldianus forms a particularly bright mass, extremely decorative in all shady areas of the garden. It will thrive under trees where it can spread over time, on the edge of a grove, or near a wide path exposed to the east or north or associated with other shrubs. As it tolerates pruning well, it can perfectly be integrated into a loose or trimmed hedge, defensive or not. Mix it, for example, with hawthorns, Amelanchier spicata, botanical roses, white or pink spireas, or with hedge honeysuckles (Lonicera xylosteum) or winter honeysuckles (Lonicera fragrantissima). It is suitable for a naturalistic garden, English, Japanese, or even exotic style, and adapts from north to south and from east to west.