Hercules's-Club Aralia spinosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-RAY-lee-ah spih-NO-sah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Aralia spinosa, commonly called devil’s walking stick or Hercules club, gets its common name from the stout, sharp spines found on its leaf stalks, stems and branches. This is a large, upright, suckering, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 10-15’ tall, but infrequently grows as a small flat topped tree to as much as 35’ tall. In its native range in the eastern U.S., it is commonly found in wood margins, fields and pastures as well as a forest or natural area at edge of woods or along streams in moist woods. It has interesting compound foliage, late summer flowers, juicy black fruit and spiny stems give this shrub distinctive and unique ornamental interest. Sparse, upright, mostly unbranched, club-like branches, ringed with conspicuous leaf scars and spines, these plants are typically naked at the bottom but crowned at the top by umbrella-like canopies of huge compound leaves.
It has stiff branches at right angles and huge, compound leaves that are the largest in North America. This plant is easy to transplant and makes an excellent addition to a pollinator garden.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Site: The Devil's walking stick grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, fertile, humusy loams, but will tolerate a wide range of soils including rocky and clayey ones. This plant is drought tolerate. Generally tolerates many urban pollutants. It is best sited in areas sheltered from strong winds to help protect the large compound leaves. It is also easily grown from seed, division of suckers or root cuttings. Plants will spread somewhat rapidly by self-seeding and suckering to form thickets. Promptly remove root suckers to prevent unwanted naturalization.
Regions: Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plains
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Late summer Nut/Fruit/Seed: Fall
Wildlife Value: This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer. Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms of this plant. Its fruit is eaten by songbirds, small mammals, foxes, racoons and opossums.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems, however, it is susceptible to leaf spots. Aphids and mealybugs may appear. Handling its bark and roots may cause allergic skin reactions.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:









- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aralia
- Species:
- spinosa
- Family:
- Araliaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA, NC
- Distribution:
- Throughout
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms of this plant. Its fruit is eaten by songbirds, small mammals, foxes, racoons and opossums.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire, range of soil conditions; transplant; deer; drought; many urban pollutants
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has a compact cluster of purple-black berries. The flowers are followed by clusters of fleshy, spherical, black drupes that ripen in late August-October. Its drupes are quite attractive to birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has 3 to 4 ft. cluster of creamy white flowers in summer. The Devil's walking stick has small, 5-petaled, white flowers (to 1/8” across) bloom in huge, terminal, clusters of umbellose panicles (to 24” long) in July–August. The flowers are quite showy and very attractive to bees.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The Devil's walking stick has alternate, compound, bipinnate to tripinnate, medium to dark green leaves that grow 2-5 feet long and 2-4 feet wide, with individual leaflets (2-4” long) having toothed margins. Its new foliage is bronze in color and turns pale yellow to dull purple brown or even yellow to red-orange in fall. This plant is ringed with conspicuous leaf scars and spines.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray-brown with persisting prickles and shallow furrows.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Fire
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous by ingestion or dermatitis. [Poisonous parts: Raw, unripe berries (OK when ripe); bark and roots]. Symptoms may include: Skin irritation from bark and roots; symptoms of ingestion unknown. Handling its bark and roots may cause allergic skin reactions.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unknown
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Fruits
- Roots