ExplorePlants

devil's walkingstick

Aralia spinosa

The devil's walkingstick is a tall shrub with spiky stems and big, green leaves. It can grow very tall and has small white flowers that turn into dark berries. It's a unique plant that stands out in the forest!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The devil's walkingstick has a thick, often unbranched stem covered in numerous sharp, stout spines. Its massive, twice-compound leaves, reaching up to 4 feet long, create a tropical canopy, topped by large umbrella-like clusters of creamy white flowers. Dark purple to black berries follow in fall.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyAraliaceaeGenusAralia
devil's walkingstick
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeshrub trait badgefruit_bearing trait badge
devil's walkingstick

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

13

Interesting facts

Early settlers used its roots to make remedies for various ailments.

It is a cousin to ginseng, a famous medicinal root!

Its spooky name comes from its spiky stem, resembling a thorny walking stick!

Though it looks like a tree, it's actually one of the largest shrubs in its family!

Special abilities

Ability

Spine Armor

The devil's walkingstick has sharp spines all over its stem that help it defend against hungry herbivores.

Ability

Berry Beacon

It produces clusters of dark berries that attract many birds, helping it spread its seeds far and wide.

Ability

Suckering Squad

This plant can send up new shoots from its roots, allowing it to quickly form dense thickets and outcompete other plants.

Measurements & details

Height
300-1000 cm
Spread
200-500 cm
Flower Size
0.2-0.3 cm
Bloom Season
Late summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Stay away from the sharp spines on the stems to avoid getting hurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify devil's walkingstick?

The easiest way to identify devil's walkingstick is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is devil's walkingstick?

300-1000 cm

How wide does devil's walkingstick spread?

200-500 cm

How big are the flowers on devil's walkingstick?

0.2-0.3 cm

When does devil's walkingstick bloom?

Late summer

Is devil's walkingstick edible?

No

Is devil's walkingstick toxic?

Mild

What is devil's walkingstick's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

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