How to identify Devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa)
Devil's walking stick, also known as Prickly ash, Hercules's club, Shot bush, Virginian angelica
Devil's walking stick is a deciduous shrub that can grow into a small tree, reaching heights of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) and occasionally up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). It features large, compound leaves that are reportedly the largest in North America, and these are supported on stems and branches with stout, sharp spines. The plant has an upright growth habit with mostly unbranched, club-like branches adorned with pronounced leaf scars. The canopy presents an umbrella-like appearance, with the branches spreading at nearly right angles to support the massive foliage.
Largest leaves in North America, 2-5 feet (60-150 cm) long, bipinnate to tripinnate.
Creamy white flowers, 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) across, in large clusters, attractive to bees.
Purple-black spherical drupes, 0.2 inches (5 mm) diameter, favored by birds.
Distinctive gray-brown bark with multipronged spines, shallow furrows, rugged texture.
Upright growth, club-like branches, umbrella-like canopy, pronounced leaf scars.
Devil's walking stick has alternate, compound, bipinnate to tripinnate leaves that are medium to dark green. Measuring 2-5 feet (60-150 cm) long and 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) wide, they feature individual leaflets 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long with toothed margins. The new foliage is bronze and transitions to pale yellow, dull purple brown, or yellow to red-orange in fall. The plant's leaves are also characterized by conspicuous leaf scars and spines.
The flowers of devil's walking stick are quite showy and bloom from June to September. They are creamy white, small, and measure about 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) across. Each flower has five petals arranged in a star-like shape. They are gathered in large, terminal clusters that can extend up to 3-4 feet (91-122 cm) in length, forming umbellose panicles about 24 inches (61 cm) long. The blooms are very attractive to bees, due to their scent and floral structure.
The fruit of devil's walking stick is a striking feature, consisting of compact clusters of spherical drupes, each measuring approximately 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. These drupes exhibit a rich purple-black hue when they mature from late July to October. The surface of the fruit is fleshy with a smooth texture. These fruits are not only visually appealing but also serve as a favored food source for various birds, underscoring their ecological role within their native habitat.
Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.
The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.
The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.
The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.
Scientific Classification of Devil's walking stick