Kendall County Forest Preserve District
American Spikenard
(Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa [C-value
10]
Family Araliaceae
Blooms July -
mid-August
The native American Spikenard is rarely found in our area and is one of our Plants of Concern. It prefers light shade and slightly moist springy rich soil. Habitats include wooded slopes and ravines in moist rich woods. This magnificent perennial is 4-6' tall with large 2-3 pinnate-compound leaves (to 2 1/2' long) each of which is divided and subdivided into 9-21 coarse oval-rounded leaflets (each to 2-6" long) with toothed margins and pointed tips. Numerous umbels of tiny greenish-white flowers (to 1/8" across) bloom in panicles (each to 12-18" long). Flowers are followed by dense hanging clusters of berries (1/4" diameter) which mature to dark purple.
American Spikenard in a Kendall County Forest Preserve July 25, 2018
American Spikenard in a Kendall County Forest Preserve July 16, 2018
American Spikenard in a Kendall County Forest Preserve July 25, 2018
American Spikenard in a Kendall County Forest Preserve July 29, 2019
American Spikenard with berries in a Kendall County Forest Preserve September 16, 2014
American Spikenard with berries in a Kendall County Forest Preserve September 16, 2014
The Native Am. Ethnobotany database lists 83 different uses of Spikenard by Native Americans including as burn dressing and a treatment for weak backs by the Cherokee, a cough remedy by the Chippewa, a cure for tapeworm by the Iroquois and the Micma used the root to treat spitting blood, headaches and female pains. It was a very popular plant. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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