My experience with Aralia spinosa is near the NH seacoast, which is a little bit warmer than you, right on the border of 5a and 5b. However, I did want to warn you that this plant does self-seed a fair amount, from dropped fruit and birds who have eaten the fruit. Because of its thorniness, removing volunteers can be an uncomfortable process. You might want to research an alternative bee forage plant that doesn't have this problematic aspect.

ViburnumValley, I really know very little of these shrubs, other that I was surprised to see A. spinosa thriving at my nearby botanical gardens of zone 3. A few years later I obtained a plant and can confidently say it would manage zone 2 just fine! Yes, plant with caution the stems are mean thorny and the thing suckers, a lawn setting would be good that the suckers are kept sheared off. Also, wise to set out of the full brunt of the wind to help prevent leaf burn, the foliage is absolutely massive 3 ft long x 2 wide, looks like a tree fern! I had presumed elata to be less hardy, 'Silver Umbrella' is hardy is zone 5 and have read of success in zone 4 and even worthy of trial in a protected zone 3 site, now that's encouraging, but who knows! I was unable to find Aralia elata 'Hope Springs Eternal' in any searches and neither for 'Fool's Errand' ... real problem is coming across any desirable variegated selection in Canada! Prairiemoon, mine was labeled as Aralia spinosa, it's planted in a full sun hot dry position, I'm surprised it has done so well and getting to be good sized, though will attempt to dig and relocate to location that better shows it off. I did have other better photos, though can't seem to locate them now.

Terry, Keep an eye out on this plant. Not sure if it has the same characteristic as Aralia Spinosa (which I have 2 of), but they spread via underground runners and if not kept in check can form quite the thicket and overun things. Ours are planted on the front lawn against the driveway, so we mow around them all the time. They have tried to run though. Last summer we found a young one 3 feet away from one of the 'mamas'. :) My father planted some on his property and they have taken over an area 100 feet by 40 feet and the only thing stopping them is a cliff... Beautiful trees though! I enjoy them in bloom!

You are welcome, ben773. Have you considered growing Heptacodium miconioides (Seven-son flower) as beeâÂÂs late-summer snacking tree? I have 2 young trees in my garden (I am in Canadian zone 5a which is probably, USDA 4a). They survived last winter with no damage at all (the winter was mild though, but with occasional frosts to -20C ( -4F)) , I am waiting to see how they will do after this winter, which was bloody cold. They start to bloom in late summer and continue blooming way into September. And they are bee magnets. And last great thing about them which I discovered last summer: they can be propagated easily by semi-hardwood side shoots! Here are a few pics of my Heptacodiums taken in September 15, 2012: First tree: Second tree: Blooms close-up: