Get 50% off al spring bulbs!
Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.

Aralia spinosa

Aralia spinosa
Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules' Club, Prickly Ash, Angelica Tree, Spiny angelica

Be the first to leave a review

Why not try an alternative variety in stock?

35
€29.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

43
From €6.50 8/9 cm pot

Available in 3 sizes

4
€32.50 4L/5L pot
2
20% €68.00 €85.00 7.5L/10L pot
14
From €27.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

20
From €8.90 8/9 cm pot

Available in 2 sizes

8
From €18.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

4
€105.00 7.5L/10L pot

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

This American tree angelica is a large spiny bush with a very exotic appearance but perfectly hardy, bearing huge and finely cut leaves that turn into sumptuous shades of yellow and bronze-red in autumn. Spectacular flowering in large cream-white clusters, highly attractive to bees, in summer. Cultivate in any ordinary, deep, not too dry soil, in full sun and sheltered from the wind.
Flower size
40 cm
Height at maturity
6 m
Spread at maturity
6 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
plantfit-full

Does this plant fit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time June to August
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

Aralia spinosa is an American cousin of the Aralia elata, from which it is very difficult to distinguish. It is also known as Spiny Angelica, due to the thorns that are present on almost every part of the plant, especially on the trunk when it is young. It is mainly a sensational, vigorous, erect, and bushy shrub, bearing very high up, on multiple trunks, large umbrellas made of immense deeply cut leaves. In summer, the bush buzzes with bees under large cream-white panicles. As soon as the first cold weather arrives, it takes on sumptuous yellow, bronze, and red hues, mixed with clusters of black fruits on pink petioles. Aralia is a true festival of colours for the late season, bursting open like a grand finale in the garden.  

The Spiny Angelica belongs to the Araliaceae family. It is native to the eastern United States, from New York to Florida and Texas. This forest edge plant prefers deep and moist soils, but adapts quite easily to less favourable conditions such as rocky pastures. It is a spreading and flaring shrub, reaching an average height of 6 m (19 in 8 ft), and up to 9 m (29 in 6 ft) in certain regions; its spread will exceed 5 m (16 in 5 ft) once mature. Its growth is more or less rapid depending on the growing conditions. Young plants grow on a single, greyish trunk covered with thorns resembling those of roses. Mature plants often have several almost thornless trunks, arising from the readily suckering stump of this plant. Each trunk only bears leaves at the top, but with age more and more lateral branches appear. Sharp thorns are found on the branches as well as on the leaf petioles. The deciduous foliage takes on beautiful colours in autumn. The immense leaves, wide, dark green on the top, paler on the underside, are compound with numerous leaflets. They can sometimes reach 1 m (3 in 4 ft) in length. The flowers appear in summer, from June to August depending on the climate, and last for several weeks. Very small, lemon-scented, they are grouped in large erect panicles measuring 30 to 60 cm (11.8 - 23.6 in), arising above the foliage. Small black fruits then appear, highly sought after by birds. Aralia spinosa, decidedly similar to Aralia elata, tends to multiply by suckering and forming clumps, which has earned it the nickname of walking tree.

It is a beautiful and perfectly hardy bush that only fears excessively dry soil and dense shade. Its decorative foliage should be protected from strong winds to preserve its beauty. Once established, it is superb as a standalone plant on a lawn or in a group to form a cluster. It is interesting when combined with trees and shrubs that, like itself, appreciate moist to wet soils, such as alder buckthorn, rosemary-leaved willow, or guelder rose. In a more exotic setting, associate it with beautiful Asian plants such as the caramel tree, Japanese maple, Fatsia, or Arisaema. Maples and sumacs, often magnificent at the end of the season, are also beautiful companions for this tree-like angelica. The only precaution to take is to keep young children away from its sharp thorns.

Aralia spinosa is a pioneer species in nature: this plant often disappears as the forest develops around it. In our gardens, it requires a lot of light to thrive.

 

 

Aralia spinosa in pictures

Aralia spinosa (Flowering) Flowering
Aralia spinosa (Foliage) Foliage
Aralia spinosa (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 6 m
Spread at maturity 6 m
Habit spreading
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time June to August
Inflorescence Panicle
Flower size 40 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour black

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Aralia

Species

spinosa

Family

Araliaceae

Other common names

Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules' Club, Prickly Ash, Angelica Tree, Spiny angelica

Origin

North America

Product reference839441

Other Aralia

20
From €8.90 8/9 cm pot

Available in 2 sizes

14
From €27.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

4
€32.50 4L/5L pot
35
€29.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

8
From €18.50 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

4
€105.00 7.5L/10L pot
43
From €6.50 8/9 cm pot

Available in 3 sizes

3
From €24.50 4L/5L pot
2
20% €68.00 €85.00 7.5L/10L pot

Planting and care

Aralia spinosa is a small tree that is very adaptable regarding soil type. However it does prefer soils that remain moist or even damp. It appreciates a sunny, very bright, or partially shaded site. Dense shade is not suitable for it. Care must be taken to install it sheltered from strong or drying winds to spare its ornamental foliage. This tree-like angelica thrives in cool to moist, fertile, neutral to slightly acidic and slightly chalky soil, but it seems that poor soils produce hardier subjects with greater longevity. This small tree tends to produce shoots without being invasive. Simply remove the small shoots as soon as they appear.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Free-standing, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Any deep, well-drained soil, not too dry.

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

This item has not been reviewed yet - be the first to leave a review about it.

Leave a review →

Striking foliage shrubs

5
From €20.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 3 sizes

5
€95.00 7.5L/10L pot
1
€49.00 4L/5L pot
2
€27.50 4L/5L pot
4
€29.50 3L/4L pot
1
€55.00 4L/5L pot
11
From €16.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

12
€27.50 3L/4L pot

Available in 2 sizes

1
From €20.50 2L/3L pot
5
€27.50 3L/4L pot

Haven't found what you were looking for?

We only deliver seed and bulb products to your country. If you add other products to your basket, they cannot be shipped.