Description

Castor aralia is a showy ornamental shrub in the same family as ginseng and English ivy (pg. 105). Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum distributed the plant to schools across the country in 1972 to celebrate its centennial. Based on recent observations it is known from at least two sites in Maryland including Piscataway National Park in Accokeek, Maryland, and Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. Patches are currently limited in size but because it is able to spread vegetatively and by seed; it is a plant to watch and if possible should be removed to prevent its spread.