I have recently bought an aralia elata for a large container in my shaded but sheltered patio where it seems to be happy. I don't have much experience with them and can't find much info online.
They are quite rare here in Ireland and I do wonder why. Do they not like the cool, wet climate? Maybe they are just not popular. Friends of mine have had some for about 15 years now and they have survived and suckered (as they do) but not grown to much more than 10' high. We think the site may be too windy.
My main questions are:
- are they suited to life in a container? what sort of root system do they have and does it allow for underplanting? I currently have foxgloves under them doing well but it's early days...
- I don't want them too tall (about 7' max), so will it be possible in time to cut the stems back and do the heads then regenerate at whatever point you cut back to? Or should one let the odd sucker grow up to replace a stem that has got too tall?
Any info and advice much appreciated, thanks!

I googled... very pretty.
While I can't tell you about this specific tree, I have had locally native aralia spinosa in pots for several years.
They have gorgeous leaves, incredible blooms, attracting masses of pollinators... and they root into the soil below, sending up children out into the garden.
Also... prone to having the pot blowing over.

10 foot high sounds about right...
I haven't tried cutting back, but have seen branching in this normally single stem plant, so... suspect it would grow back from being topped... but it would look funny.

Hmm.
https://monroecountyswcd.org/p...

Apparently, Japanese aralia is less of a single leader plant... Whack as much as you like.

https://www.brandywine.org/con...

Apparently the aralia spinosa is a showier plant...

Many thanks, this is very interesting!
There is no native aralia in Ireland and I have never come across A spinosa. Nor have I ever seen either in the wild. here Must pay attention next time I'm in the US.
It doesn't seem to naturalise here - I suspect it may not fruit or the seed is not viable/doesn't germinate because of the relatively cool climate and short summers. Same as a lot of plants from the southern-hemisphere or warmer climates here: they survive quite well because of the relatively mild winters but don't flower, fruit, or seed.
My plant came with three stems and I wouldn't really want any branching. When it comes to pruning them back I'll try what I do with cordyline australis (grows everywhere in Ireland and is mistaken for palm) and remove all but one of the new shoots it makes below the cut.
How big are your pots?


here is a photo of mine. They are very striking architectural plants!

Yeah... my pots are about the size that your pots look.
The plants are way too large for the pots...
Should take a pic...
Usually just take pics of flowers.
The pots keep the aralia handy for when they get interesting...










Can't find my berry pic...

oooh, yours look wonderful!
I'm planning on keeping the plant-pot ratio reasonable by topping or maybe even root-pruning them, or possibly reducing the plant to a single trunk. Which is why I was looking for advice on pruning.
They look like they flower at quite a young age, do they? I'm curious to see if I get flowers at all - what with the shady location and cool climate. I mainly just wanted something tall and architectural for a very small space.

I took a look at the pots at my house...
Not as proportional as your pots.
I potted my plants when they were small, and then?
I've ignored them. As they've rooted into the ground below, it doesn't matter that the pots are too small.
I have patches that aren't in pots... the group of 3 aren't potted, but do show how nice these are.
The videos are of one of my potted ones.

Yeah, I think you'll get flowers, just not as showy.
When we're waiting for flowers, it seems like they take forever... but I think 3 or 4 years for aralia spinosa.