Aralia spinosa

devil's walkingstick

Araliaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

8-12 ft tall.

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

purple,black

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring. Fruit ripe in fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Thorns

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant or background hedge.

Considerations:

When its huge triply compound leaves are shed in the fall, only the main thorny stem is left standing through the winter months--hence the name devil's walking stick. In the right situation, it can sucker aggressively.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---- to ---- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds, Mammals

Attracts butterflies and bees.  Documented bee species include  Colletes mandibularis, Hylaeus confluens, Augochlora pura, Coelioxys dolichos, C. texana, Megachile mendica, M. xylocopoides , and Epeolus zonatus (Deyrup et al. 2002).

Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. Birds include nuthatches, orioles, chickadees, titmice, and warblers.

Native Habitats:

The edges of dry hammocks and dry hardwood forests.