Plant Details

Native to shady forested areas in Japan, ‘Sun King’ was “discovered" by plantsman Barry Yinger in a Japanese garden center atop a department store. This perennial has become a beloved shade garden staple across the country. Bright yellow shoots emerge in spring, then grow to 4 to 6 feet tall and nearly as wide. Small, cream-colored umbels of flowers appear in late July and last through September, attracting bees and eventually developing into tiny, dark, inedible berries. Despite Sun King’s stature, it's very well behaved, with little to no reseeding or suckering. To retain its color, place in part shade. Being herbaceous, it will die back in the fall and re-emerge in the spring. It is best grown in well-drained soils and benefits from compost being incorporated. No serious insect or disease problems affect it, and deer don’t bother it. This was awarded the 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year® award from the Perennial Plant Association.