Hercule's Club, Aralia spinosa, American Angelica Tree, Hercules' Club, Devil's Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Family: Araliaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.
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.
Height (m): 9
Where it is found
Buffs, rich woods and river banks in deep moist soils.
South-eastern N. America - New York to Florida, east to Texas.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Young leaves - cooked. The leaves usually have a number of slender prickles, they must be gathered before the prickles harden and are then chopped finely and used as a potherb.
Medicine
Rating: 2
Analgesic. The bark, especially of the roots is the part most commonly used medicinally, though other parts of the plant, including the fruit, also possess medicinal properties. The fresh bark is strongly emetic, ophthalmic, purgative and sialagogue, when dried it is a stimulating alterative and is diaphoretic. A tincture of the berries is used in the treatment of toothache and rheumatism. A poultice of the roots is applied to boils, skin eruptions, varicose veins, old sores and swellings. A cold infusion of the roots is used as drops for sore eyes.
Alterative: Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
Analgesic: Relieves pain.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.
Sialagogue: Stimulates the secretion of saliva.
Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
Other
Rating:
Wood - close-grained, weak, light, soft, brittle. Of little economic value.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position. Requires a sheltered position. A fast-growing but short-lived tree in its native zone, this species is of little value in Britain. It is generally a single-stemmed plant, often spreading freely by means of suckers. Plants make finer foliage when growing in rich soils but are generally healthier and longer-lived in a comparatively poor soil. 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. Special Features:North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Attracts butterflies, Attractive flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: 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. 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. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage. Division of suckers in late winter. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Secondary; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 5-9
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Handling the roots can cause dermatitis in some people. Large amounts of the berries are poisonous.