• Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Aralia spinosa

devil's walkingstick

Nomenclature

Common Name:

devil's walkingstick

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Aralia spinosa

Family:

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:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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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

Soil pH:

acidic to neutral

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.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The aromatic spicy roots and fruit were used by early settlers in home remedies, including a cure for toothaches.

General Comments: