Japanese Angelica-Tree, Japanese Aralia 'Silver Umbrellas'

This aggressive species from east Asia has escaped to wild areas from Philadelphia to New York and Long Island. The Pennsylvania DNR, the...Read More National Park Service, and the US Forest Service have all been concerned about it invading natural areas. Birds eat the fruit and distribute the seeds widely in the landscape.

It is frequently (and understandably) confused with the closely related but less aggressive native Hercules' walking club, Aralia spinosa. If you want to distinguish them, check out http://www.nybg.org/files/scientists/rnaczi/Mistaken_Identit... There may be hybrid forms.

Deciduous shrub - similar to Variegata, but smaller and more finely textured.