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Devil's Walking Stick

Tagged as: Large Deciduous Shrubs

Botanical Name: Aralia spinosa
Common Name: Devil's Walking Stick

Updated 2/2012


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Aralia spinosa at The Morton Arboretum Aralia spinosa bark
form trunk
Aralia spinosa in bloom Aralia spinosa leaves
flowers leaves


Height: 10-20' Spread: 10-20'+  Habit/Form: Erect colony-forming Growth Rate: Slow  Zone: 4-9

Cultural Requirements: Sun to part shade; grows in dry rocky conditions but best in moist, well-drained soils; pH adaptable; urban tolerant; suckering shrub or small tree, can spread indefinitely; typically grows as understory or at wood edge in large thickets; native to eastern U.S.

Ornamental Characteristics: Coarse-textured; lightly branched, umbrella-like large shrub or small tree; spiny stems; large, lacy compound leaves; large attractive creamy-white flowers panicles; and purple-black fruit.

Use in the Landscape: Shrub border, understory screening; remote areas of the landscape where the stems will not harm anyone

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