# bristly sarsaparilla (*Aralia hispida*)

Bristly sarsaparilla is a unique plant with prickly stems and big, green leaves. It grows in the wild and can be found in forests, adding beauty to nature with its interesting shape.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![bristly sarsaparilla](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aralia_hispida_15-p.bot-aral.hispid-025.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aralia_hispida_15-p.bot-aral.hispid-025.jpg)

## Appearance

The bristly sarsaparilla has upright, branching stems covered in stiff, sharp bristles. Its large, doubly compound leaves are bright green, and it produces clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers. These flowers later develop into shiny, dark purple-black berries that stand out against the foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Araliaceae
- **Genus:** Aralia

## Interesting facts

- Even though it's called 'sarsaparilla,' it's not the same plant used to flavor old-time sodas!
- Its leaves can change from green to a beautiful reddish-purple color in the fall!
- Its spiky stems are like tiny bodyguards, making it tricky for nibbling animals to eat!
- The dark berries of this plant are a delicious snack for many birds and small critters.

## Special abilities

- **Bristle Shield:** Bristly sarsaparilla has stiff, sharp bristles on its stems that help protect it from hungry herbivores.
- **Berry Beacon:** Bristly sarsaparilla produces dark, juicy berries that attract birds, helping spread its seeds far.
- **Root Power:** Bristly sarsaparilla has strong, creeping roots that help it spread and grow in tough soils.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 60-120 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its white flowers for nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins and other birds eat its berries.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Always look but don't touch the prickly parts of the plant to stay safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify bristly sarsaparilla?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is bristly sarsaparilla?

30-90 cm

### How wide does bristly sarsaparilla spread?

60-120 cm

### How big are the flowers on bristly sarsaparilla?

0.3-0.5 cm

### When does bristly sarsaparilla bloom?

Summer

### Is bristly sarsaparilla edible?

No

### Is bristly sarsaparilla toxic?

Mild

### What is bristly sarsaparilla's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Abram S. Hewitt State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abram-s-hewitt-state-forest) — New Jersey, US · Forest

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Bristly Sarsaparilla: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bristly-sarsaparilla)