Hairy sarsaparilla
Aralia hispida

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m tall. It has sharp stiff bristles at the base. The leaves are twice divided. The leaflets are oval and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and greenish white. They grow in round clusters. The fruit are dark berries. They have a bad smell.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Canada it grows in sandy, open woods. It suits hardiness zone 3.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America

How it is used for food

The rhizomes are used to make tea and root beer. The fruit are used to flavour beer.

Edible parts

Roots, rhizomes, fruit - flavour

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bristly sarsaparilla

Synonyms

Aralia muehlenbergiana Schult.;