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Aralia spinosa Linnaeus. Common name: Devil's-walking-stick, Hercules's-club, Prickly-ash, Angelica-tree. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Disturbed pocosins and bottomlands, disturbed areas, moist to dry forests and woodlands. Distribution: NJ west to s. IN, IL, and IA, south to c. peninsular FL and e. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Smith (1982) discussed the juvenile (prickly) and adult (unarmed) leaf phases of A. spinosa.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, Fl7, FNA13, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mo2, NE, NY, Ok, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Moore, Glenn, & Ma (2009), Smith (1944), Smith (1982a). Basionym: Aralia spinosa L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Aralia spinosa - FNA13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro:

Stems:

Leaves:

Inforescence:

Flowers: Whitish flowers.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 12-15 ft.

plant sale text: This showy, fast-growing shrub is often favored for its attractive flowers and somewhat tropical appearance. Its flowers are a source of nectar for bees and butterflies alike, and birds enjoy its seeds in the fall. It has a rich history of human usage as well. The aromatic roots and fruits were used to treat tooth-ache, and the flowers are valued for their lemony fragrance. Care should be taken when selecting a location for Devil's Walking-stick due to its spines and its tendency to spread via rhizomes and suckers.

bloom table text:

description:

stems:

leaves:

inflorescence:

flowers: Whitish flowers.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States



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