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Aralia spinosa - L.

Common Name Hercule's Club, Aralia spinosa, American Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club, Devil's Walking Stick
Family Araliaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards Handling the roots can cause dermatitis in some people[222]. Large amounts of the berries are poisonous[222].
Habitats Buffs, rich woods and river banks in deep moist soils[43].
Range South-eastern N. America - New York to Florida, east to Texas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Aralia spinosa Hercule


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Aralia spinosa Hercule
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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Aralia spinosa is a deciduous Tree growing to 9 m (29ft 6in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - cooked[105, 177]. The leaves usually have a number of slender prickles, they must be gathered before the prickles harden[159] and are then chopped finely and used as a potherb[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative  Analgesic  Diaphoretic  Ophthalmic  Sialagogue  Stimulant

Analgesic[46, 61]. The bark, especially of the roots[82] is the part most commonly used medicinally, though other parts of the plant, including the fruit[82], also possess medicinal properties[4]. The fresh bark is strongly emetic, ophthalmic, purgative and sialagogue[4, 46, 61, 222, 257], when dried it is a stimulating alterative and is diaphoretic[82]. A tincture of the berries is used in the treatment of toothache and rheumatism[4, 222, 257]. A poultice of the roots is applied to boils, skin eruptions, varicose veins, old sores and swellings[222, 257]. A cold infusion of the roots is used as drops for sore eyes[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Wood

Wood - close-grained, weak, light, soft, brittle[82, 227]. Of little economic value[229].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[1]. Requires a sheltered position[1]. A fast-growing but short-lived tree in its native zone[229], this species is of little value in Britain[1]. It is generally a single-stemmed plant, often spreading freely by means of suckers[182, 229]. Plants make finer foliage when growing in rich soils but are generally healthier and longer-lived in a comparatively poor soil[11]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. Special Features:North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Attracts butterflies, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this. Root cuttings 8cm long, December in a cold frame[11, 78]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[78]. Division of suckers in late winter[11]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Indiana (south), New York (west), Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois (south), Missouri (southeast), Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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