Aralia spinosa, commonly known as devil's walking stick, is a woody species of plant in the genus Aralia of the family Araliaceae. It is native to eastern North America.

Its interesting compound foliage, late summer flowers, juicy black fruit and spiny stems give this shrub distinctive and unique ornamental interest. It has sparse, upright, mostly unbranched, club-like branches, ringed with conspicuous leaf scars and spines.

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.

Unique and tropical-looking, Aralia spinosa (Devil's Walking Stick) is a large, suckering, deciduous shrub or small tree with huge, divided, rich dark blue-green leaves, up to 5 ft. long (150 cm).

Areas with moist and fertile soil grows aralia spinosa well but it can tolerate rocky and clay areas2. The species grows quickly and spreads through self-seeding and sprouts. In most eastern areas of the United States, Devil’s walking stick grows upland and …

It produces large panicles of fragrant flowers during the summer and dark berries during the autumn. This woody species, which is native to southern Illinois, is often confused with a similar species, Aralia elata (Japanese Angelica Tree).

SPECIES: Aralia spinosa GENERAL DISTRIBUTION: Devil's walkingstick is found naturally occurring in eastern North America from New York and Pennsylvania south to Florida and west to southwestern Iowa and western Texas.

Aralia spinosa, or devil's walking stick, is not a plant for the faint of heart. This robust suckering shrub or small tree has thorns on its trunk, branches and leaves.The flowers are large, terminal, white panicles that produce black berries in the fall.

Anyone who has accidentally brushed against a devil's-walkingstick does not soon forget the experience, for this tall, spindly native shrub or small tree is armed up and down its thin trunk with extremely sharp, treacherous spines.

Scientific name: Aralia spinosa Pronunciation: uh-RAIL-ee-uh spy-NO-suh Common name(s): Devils-Walkingstick, Hercules-Club Family: Araliaceae USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 9A (Fig. 2) Origin: native to North America Uses: reclamation plant; specimen Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries