Aralia spinosa L.

Devil's Walkingstick; Hercules Club; Prickly Ash

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Devil's Walkingstick is a native deciduous shrub or small tree in the Ginseng family (Araliaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Devil's Walkingstick grows in forest openings, on slopes and banks, along fence rows, and along streams. Stems are unbranched until after the first flowering. Then they are sparsely branched with up-right cane-like stems. Stems are armed with straight, sharp prickles. Leaves are alternate, twice or thrice odd pinnately compound. The bases of the leaves are inflated and fused with the stipules. They clasp the stem and extend ½-2/3’s of the way around the stem. Leaves are clustered umbrella-like at the apex of the stems. Leaves may be five feet long and four feet wide. The leaflets are stalked, ovate in outline, and irregularly serrate. The leaf petioles and midribs may be armed with hooked prickles. Leaves become yellowish-brown in the autumn before leaf fall. Flowers are produced in terminal compound panicles. The panicles may be 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. Individual flowers are grouped in ball-like umbels. Flowers are greenish-white in color and have 5 petals. The fruit is a blue-black drupe. Devil's Walkingstick is an interesting “conservation piece” for the garden. It is very exotic looking with its large leaves and cane-like stems. The flowers attract a wide range of pollinators and the fruit are consumed by many bird and small mammal species. Devil's Walkingstick should be planted away from paths where people will not come into contact with the armed stems. It can be used along a woodland edge or along the back of a shrub bed. Devil's Walkingstick can be grown from seed and root suckers transplant well when young.--A. Diamond

**

Native FAC- (NWPL)

**