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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Aralia spinosa

Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules' Club, Prickly Ash

Scientific Name:

Aralia spinosa

Genus:

Aralia

Species Epithet:

spinosa

Common Name:

Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules' Club, Prickly Ash

Plant Type

Tree/Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

12-36 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

July, August, September

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Disturbed pocosins and bottomlands, disturbed areas, moist to dry forests and woodlands.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Compound

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Suitable for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Thorny and not attractive, but can be used as hedges in remote areas. Birds are attracted to it.

Small grove

Aralia spinosa often occurs in groups, spreading by root sprouts. The 3-foot leaves make a dramatic presence even when not in bloom or berry.

image

Paynter, Wilmington, 2010

Plants in Bloom

On the campus of WCU

image

Blooms

image

Close-up of individual flowers

Large, showy terminal panicles of tiny flowers attract many pollinators.

image

Fruit

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Bark with formidable thorns

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Leaves emerging in spring

The Scientific Name is Aralia spinosa. You will likely hear them called Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules' Club, Prickly Ash. This picture shows the Leaves emerging in spring of Aralia spinosa

Wake County, NC, April 20002 by Hugh Partridge

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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