Common Name: Hercule's Club

General Information

Aralia spinosa is a very spiny, deciduous shrub, or occasionally a tree, producing upright, few-branched stems usually 3 - 4.5 metres tall from a vigorous, suckering rootstock. Occasionally the plant becomes a small, flat-topped tree up to 10.5 metres tall[]. The plant usually spreads freely by means of suckers to form a thicket[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild mainly for local use as a medicine, though it is also sometimes harvested as a food and as a source of wood. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].
Plants will spread somewhat rapidly by self-seeding and suckering to form thickets. Promptly remove root suckers to prevent unwanted naturalization[].

Known Hazards

Handling the roots can cause dermatitis in some people[]. Large amounts of the berries are poisonous[]..

Botanical References

, ,

Range

South-eastern N. America - Missouri to Pennsylvannia, south to Texas and Florida

Habitat

Buffs, rich woods and river banks in deep moist soils[]. Low upland woods, wood margins, thickets, wooded slopes, bluffs and ravines, fields and pastures[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	9.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The dormant plant is very cold tolerant, but 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[].
An easily grown plant, succeeding in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade[]. It prefers moist, fertile, humusy loams, but tolerates a wide range of soils including rocky and clayey ones[]. It is best sited in areas sheltered from strong winds to help protect the large compound leaves[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The plant generally tolerates many urban pollutants[].
A fast-growing but short-lived tree in its native zone[].
Plants make finer foliage when growing in rich soils but are generally healthier and longer-lived in a comparatively poor soil[].

Edible Uses

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[].

Medicinal

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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are very attractive to bees[].

Other Uses

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

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[]. 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, early winter in a cold frame[, ]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in early to mid spring. High percentage[].
Division of suckers in late winter[]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.