Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Home
  • About JSWCD
    • History
    • Board of Supervisors >
      • Special Election Forms & Info
    • Staff
    • Newsletters
    • Conservation Partners
    • Contact JSWCD
    • Employment
  • Programs & Services
    • Education >
      • Envirothon
      • Fernwood State Forest Outdoor Days
      • Interactive Playground
      • Stream Monitoring
    • SWCD Watershed Program Grants
    • Septic Information >
      • Septic Information
      • (HSTS) Home Sewage Treatment System Repair/Replacement Program
    • Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
    • Agriculture >
      • Grazing Management Minute
      • Pasture Walks
    • Urban >
      • Stream Permitting and Activities
      • Stormwater Pollution Prevention (SWP3) Review
      • Public Education/Outreach
      • Public Involvement/Participation
      • Construction Site Runoff
      • Post-Construction Stormwater Runoff
    • Watershed Home
    • Forestry
  • Activities
    • Farmers' gateway Market
    • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Awards
    • Contests >
      • Big Tree Contest
  • Sales
    • Plat Book and Wall Map
    • Soil Test Kit
    • Fish Sale
  • Piney Fork Trail
    • Piney Fork Trail Plank Sponsorship
  • Water Testing
  • Community Investment Plan
  • 2022 Native Tree and Shrub Sale
  • >
  • DEVIL’S WALKING STICK (Aralia spinose):

DEVIL’S WALKING STICK (Aralia spinose):

SKU:
$30.00
$30.00
Unavailable
per item

Height: 35 to 60 feet                           

Spread: 25 to 35 feet

Bloom Time: July to August                  

Bloom Description: White

Sun: Part shade to Full Shade               

Suggested Use: Wildlife/ Winter Interest

Flower: Showy and Fragrant               

Tolerate: Deer

Attracts: Butterflies & Honey Bees      

Native to: Jefferson County

 

Perhaps the most unique and potentially the rarest tree native to Jefferson County and Ohio is the Devil’s Walking stick. This tree is special as it has a plethora of thorns and the largest leaves of any plant in North America. However, don’t let the thorns and leave size scare you. The thorns provide visually magnificent displays unlike any other plant and create great winter interest and habitat for birds and butterflies. The leaves appear at the top of the stems and are compound, bi- and tri-pinnate in style and measure 3-4 feet in length, but appear to be smaller. The tree’s appearance is often described as palm tree-like. The texture and depth of this plant on the landscape is invaluable.

 

The true showstopper of devil’s walking stick is the flower. These white flowers borne in the middle of summer are three to four feet in length and fill the area with a strong lemony smell. The flowers give way to a small berry-like drupe that is craved by wildlife and is edible by humans.

 

The Mingo people of Jefferson County used Devil’s Walking Stick for a variety of purposes. They planted the tree around gardens and fruit trees to prevent browsing by livestock, and also situated them around the perimeter of their camp to prevent surprise attacks. The flowers and fruit were used for trade and decoration. In 1688, the trees were collected and sent to Europe for the landscape trade as they were prized for their prickly stems, large showy and aromatic flowers and distinctive fall color. In the Civil War, extracts of the plant were used to treat wounds as the extract is antimicrobial.

 

The tree is a host plant for 4 species of butterflies and moths and attracts 12 different genera of birds.

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
Sold Out
Add to Cart
Picture
GENERAL

​
About JSWCD

Contact Us
​Employment
Newsletters
Photo Gallery
​Minutes


PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Agriculture
Urban
Watersheds
Forestry
Education

RESOURCES

​NRCS
Oil & Gas
Links
​
Water Testing

Picture
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

500 Market Street . Mezzanine, Suite 4 . Steubenville, Ohio 43952                           Phone: (740) 264-9790
©2015 Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District.
All rights reserved