National Capital Region

Exotic Plant Management Team National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

1 Invasive Plant Alert

Japanese Angelica Tree Catoctin and Rock Creek parks lateral veins run all the way to the Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. where it is found in disturbed margin of most leaflets. open areas and forest edges with a preference for moist, well- JAT flowers late July to August, drained soils. forming large branched clusters of many tiny white creamy flowers. Identifying the Plant The inflorescences are wider than Japanese angelica tree (JAT) is a long with no obvious central axis. small deciduous tree that grows Fruits are small round black rapidly in full to partial sun and drupes. can reach 40 feet in height. It is more robust and usually larger than its native relative, Devil’s walking stick (A. spinosa) but it can be very challenging to tell them apart. The best strategy is to wait until flowering. The base of the terminal inflorescence stalk of the native is long and stretched out; JAT has a very short axis and the inflorescence emerges abruptly from the top of the trunk. Figure 3 Inflorescence of A. elata. Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko

Figure 1 Japanese Angelica tree. Copyright to Berlin Botanical How to get rid of it? Gardens Control is difficult. Plants can be pulled by hand or dug up, In the aralia or ginseng family removing the roots. Mowing or (Araliaceae), Japanese angelica cutting and treating cut stems tree is native to east Asia and was immediately with approved introuced as an ornamental systemic herbicide like plant. It poses a threat to native glyphosate is a very effective species and natural habitats by option. by shading out and preventing the growth of native plant Resources species. New York. Non-native Plant

Invasiveness Ranking Form. Where to Look Figure 2 Inflorescence of native A. http://www.nyis.info/user_uplo In the US, it has been reported to spinosa. Picture from (c) 2003 Steven J. ads/02750_Aralia.elata.NYS.pdf be invasive in Connecticut, Baskauf. Delaware, the District of U.S. Forest Service. 2005. Weed Columbia, Illinois, The branches of Japanese angelica of the Week: Japanese angelica Massachusetts, Maryland, tree spread irregularly, and the tree. Michigan, New Jersey, New thick stems present leaf scars and http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/inv York, North Carolina, Oregon, prickles. The large compound asive_plants/weeds/japanese- Pennsylvania, Washington and leaves are alternate and leaflets angelica-tree.pdf Wisconsin. In the NPS National have serrated margins. In JAT, the Capital Region, it occurs in

1 This species has been identified as a potential or emerging threat to natural areas in the mid-Atlantic region

2012 National Park Service, National Capital Region Exotic Plant Management Team, Washington, DC. Written by Lina Arcila, edited by Mark Frey