Devil’s Walkingstick: A Spiky Native with Surprising Garden Appeal
If you’re looking for a native plant that’s guaranteed to be a conversation starter, meet the devil’s walkingstick (Aralia spinosa). Don’t let the intimidating name scare you away – this unique native shrub brings both drama and ecological benefits to the right garden setting.
What Is Devil’s Walkingstick?
Devil’s walkingstick is a perennial, multi-stemmed woody shrub native to the lower 48 states. True to its dramatic common name, this plant features stems covered in sharp spines that give it a fierce appearance. But beneath that thorny exterior lies a valuable native plant that can reach 20 feet tall at maturity with a moderate growth rate.
Where Does It Grow Naturally?
This native beauty has an impressive natural range across the eastern United States. You’ll find devil’s walkingstick growing wild from Maine down to Florida and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. It thrives in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.
Why Consider Devil’s Walkingstick for Your Garden?
Despite its forbidding spines, devil’s walkingstick offers several compelling reasons to include it in the right landscape:
- Unique aesthetic appeal: Massive compound leaves (up to 4 feet long!) create a tropical look in temperate gardens
- Summer flowers: Large, showy clusters of small white flowers bloom in early summer
- Wildlife magnet: Provides food for large animals (5-10% of diet), small mammals (2-5% of diet), and birds (2-5% of diet)
- Pollinator friendly: Summer blooms attract bees, wasps, and other beneficial insects
- Native plant benefits: Supports local ecosystems and requires less maintenance than non-natives
- Fall interest: Dark purple-black berries follow the flowers
Where Does Devil’s Walkingstick Fit in Your Landscape?
This isn’t a plant for every garden, but in the right setting, it’s spectacular. Devil’s walkingstick works beautifully as:
- An understory specimen in woodland gardens
- A focal point in naturalized areas
- Part of a wildlife habitat garden
- A dramatic addition to shade gardens with room to spread
Keep in mind that this plant can spread by suckers to form colonies, so give it space or be prepared to manage its growth.
Growing Conditions and Care
Devil’s walkingstick is surprisingly adaptable when it comes to soil types, tolerating coarse, medium, and fine-textured soils. However, it does have some specific preferences:
- Hardiness zones: 4-9
- Light requirements: Partial shade to full shade (intolerant of full sun)
- Soil needs: Moist, well-draining soil with high fertility
- pH preference: Acidic soils (4.8-6.6)
- Moisture: High water needs – not drought tolerant
- Temperature tolerance: Can handle temperatures down to -25°F
Planting and Care Tips
Successfully growing devil’s walkingstick requires attention to its specific needs:
- Site selection: Choose a partially shaded location with rich, moist soil
- Soil preparation: Amend with compost or other organic matter to improve fertility
- Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, especially during establishment
- Spacing: Allow 6-10 feet between plants, or 700-1700 plants per acre for mass plantings
- Maintenance: Minimal pruning needed, but remove suckers if you want to control spread
Propagation Options
Devil’s walkingstick is routinely available from native plant nurseries and can be propagated by:
- Seeds (131,000 seeds per pound!) – requires cold stratification
- Bare root plants
- Container-grown specimens
Seeds are abundant and persist well, with fruit production from summer through fall.
Special Considerations
Before planting devil’s walkingstick, keep these factors in mind:
- Wetland adaptability: Can grow in both wetland and upland conditions depending on your region
- Spiny stems: Plant away from foot traffic areas due to sharp thorns
- Toxicity: Slight toxicity – keep away from areas where children or pets might chew on plants
- Spread potential: Can form colonies through root suckers
The Bottom Line
Devil’s walkingstick isn’t for every gardener or every space, but for those with the right conditions and appreciation for native plants with character, it’s a fascinating addition to the landscape. This native shrub offers unique aesthetics, valuable wildlife habitat, and the satisfaction of supporting local ecosystems. Just make sure you have the space, shade, and moisture it needs to thrive – and maybe warn visitors about those spines!
