woodland shrub
Devil's walkingstick
Aralia spinosa
Native to much of the USA
Florida to eastern Texas, north to New York and Ohio River valley; naturalized northward
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 5–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jul–Aug Flowering time
- Height up to 20 ft to 6.1 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for partial shade and evenly moist soil. Its white flowers peak in August. At up to 20 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 5–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Devil's walkingstick's white flowers bloom July to August, peaking in August. This late-summer display draws bees and butterflies.
Devil's walkingstick blooms whiteFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee, Pure Green Sweat bee +8 more
Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee, Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee, Little Masked Bee, Zoned Cellophane-cuckoo Bee, Coelioxys texana, Coelioxys dolichos, Colletes mandibularis, Hylaeus confluens - Butterflies Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
also Great Spangled Fritillary, Papilio cresphontes, Protographium marcellus +1 more
Mitoura gryneus - Birds Tufted Titmouse also Cardinalis cardinalis
- Also visited by
- Wasps: Bald-faced Hornet, Four-toothed Mason Wasp
- Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Flower flies: Six-spotted Bromeliad Fly
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Eastern tiger swallowtailnectar
- Giant swallowtailnectar
- Great spangled fritillarynectar
- Juniper hairstreaknectar
- Zebra swallowtailnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USAUnited States (24): AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Florida to eastern Texas, north to New York and Ohio River valley; naturalized northwardThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–9 · Canadian 6–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained, fertile to poor soils. pH tolerant. Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay LoamThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 4.8–6.6The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- HighHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- HighHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 20 ft (to 6.1 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 30+ in (76+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jul–AugWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Aug–OctThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Required (cold, moist)Whether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.1 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- NoneWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.