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| From In the Garden |
Aralia spinosa, aka Devil's Walking Stick, is an understory tree of disturbed areas in forested regions and is quite common in my area, including Land Between the Lakes. It is also quite common in my neighbor's yard; which has been severely disturbed when the previous neighbor's made a dirt bike trail. (No more dirt bikes-now sweet and quiet horses-with the new neighbor's-a good thing!)
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| From In the Garden |
What I'd really like to know is why do you suppose it is called the Devil's Walking Stick? Could it be because of all those spines along the straight and smooth trunk? Do spikey things fit the devil and does he suffer discomfort? If so, the Devil using this stick to walk must have mighty tough hands to handle those spikes; which fits! Could there be another reason for the common name of Devil's Walking Stick? Anyone know?
in the garden....
Good Morning Everyone.
ReplyDeleteTina, I've heard of this but never gave it much thought. I suppose the thorns have a use of some kind. I will have to do research to learn more about this plant.
It drizzled here yesterday. I guess we needed the moisture. Wasn't bad as the boys wanted to play in it.
No no as one had the sniffles.
I hope everyone has a marvelous day.
This was one of the first forest plants I learned. I was very young when my father told me the name, and it made me uneasy every time I saw the plant. The Aralias around here have had very nice color this year, that I have never noticed or appreciated before. The purple berries, pink stems and yellow foliage all work well together.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the spikes are a representation of the horns on the devil, either way...it's pretty neat.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all! I woke up to a bit of rain here too. Too bad since it is my biking day too. I may still go-just take a raincoat.
ReplyDeleteLola, I hope the boys don't get sick!@
Les, Cool this was one of the first plants you learned! The aralias are most beautiful this year-even in the blooms in summer were fabulous. Janet had posted on it a while back and it was a lovely posting.
Dawn, That may be it! The spikes represent the horns! Makes more sense than the devil needing to have tough hands:)
I have no idea, Tina, but it would surely hurt like the devil to use one of these branches as a walking stick!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite plants. I have one growing in a pot and I just waiting for the right spot to plant it.
ReplyDeleteIt must be the thorns. It makes the plant look wicked which would be something the devil may like?
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was the thorns along the trunk...only the Devil could handle it as a walking stick. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteRose, Yes indeed!
ReplyDeleteHow it Grows, I hope you find a great spot. My neighbor's grows along a fence in a natural area-out of the way.
Dave, Wicked looking it is, but it is funny because the rod is so straight and smooth then to have all those thorns.
Janet, Definitely a stick for a devil!
I ditto what everybody else said about the horns.
ReplyDeleteAnd I find it interesting how slightly poisonous things can be used as a medicine! There is so much going on in medical research with nature's toxic substances. I also wondered if the cure for cancer was right in front of us, some poison ivy or kudzu vine. :)
Rosey
This is a cool small shrub Tina!I am going to look for it on my next walk at the Warner Parks. gail
ReplyDeleteI think it's the thorns, and the way it pops up everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see how those thorns would be "devilish" to the unsuspecting hand that thought he'd be grabbing that walking stick.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the Devil is the only one able to hold onto such a thorny stick - must be handy for walloping the occasional bothersome imp or gremlin!
ReplyDeletePerfect name! the Swedish name for Aralia spinosa is Taggaralia (thorn-aralia) perfect name to but not as dramatic and exciting as yours. It's a pretty little tree.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad has a couple of them, nasty things. They are so straight they would make a good walking stick except for the thorns.
ReplyDeleteIsn't is odd how many things are named for the devil? Devil's gorge, devil's canyon, devil's lake, etc.
Marnie
I do like the berries, esp. the things that look like little crowns or sea creatures! I've only heard of Henry Lauder's walking stick... so I'll count myself lucky!
ReplyDeleteRosey, You are so right. Medicine is a complex and amazing thing.
ReplyDeleteGail, It should be there somewhere since it is native.
SweetBay, It sure does grow everywhere. Thorns go with the devil for sure.
Jen, Devilish indeed and you can imagine the devilish words from the unsuspecting person.
EG, I am thinking a wallop with this stick would keep the gremlins in line for sure:)
Tyra, That is a perfect name! Love it!
Marnie, Sure makes you wonder about the fascination with the devil doesn't it? Thorny issue indeed.
Monica, It is a neat little shrub/tree. Many birds feast on it but have to beware of the thorns.
I love the berries and they do look so inviting so it is too bad they can't be enjoyed by our taste buds.
ReplyDeleteInteresting tree/shrub and question.
I have no answer other than what as already been stated.
I've only seen them for sale in the nursery's native plants area. We always have to stop and look at those thorny branches and think about how painful they look. I hadn't seen berries on them before.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteWell, when I saw the first photo, I just flinched, imagining how those thorns would hurt the unsuspecting individual who grabbed it without looking. I think the name fits :0)
Interesting small tree/bush there Tina. I looked a bit more on it and found out it has the largest leaves of any tree! They can measure in the feet range! The leaves can be eaten before the thorns harden! I think I have heard of the Devils Walking Stick before but never knew what it was. Thanks for the information as this is really interesting. As for the name, I have no idea but would agree with all the above suggestions. I dont think I want anything called Devil in my yard though, no matter how nice it may be. lol...
ReplyDeleteYou must be Gun-Ho to ride a bike in the rain. My crazy bike riding neighbor would love to have you next door as he is a bike riding fool. I am not calling you a fool but he is obsessed with bike riding to the point of exhaustion and then planning his next ride! lol. Enjoy your day whether bike riding or curled up with a book or with hammer in hand! :)
I've never heard of these so I found this very informative Tina. The berries do look pretty and good enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteMom, The berries are simply beautiful and so prolific.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, It's been a great year for the berries. I'm surprised you can find these in nurseries.
Noelle, Oh yes, the name surely fits. And thanks so much for thinking of me with the award! I am honored.
Skeeter, Great job! Yes, I read this too and many folks like them in the garden because those huge leaves are so exotic looking. A neat tree indeed. Yup, just got back from my two loops-9 mile bike ride. I surely did not think I'd hurt so much but I still do even after three weeks of riding. I could never keep up with your neighbor. Folks who ride all the time they are good racers. I am more of a recreational rider and find bike riding easier on the old body than walking. I so enjoy it-drizzle and all:)
Linda, Hello! I hope you are doing well. These little trees are native to the eastern half of the U.S. and quite prevalent alongside the roads and on fencerows. They are neat.
Ouch. H.
ReplyDeleteWe have a thorny plant that looks like this in the wooded area behind our backyard. I wonder if it's the same thing... do they grow this far north?
ReplyDeleteYeowch! I am thinking this is the only walking stick available in hell,
ReplyDeleteand that is the reason for the name,
i have heard upteen dozed plants called devils walking stick and this is the only one that can claim the name so I read. Have you ever seen a devils backbone plant?
I have a variegated Devil's Backbone plant. It sure is strange looking. Even here it has to be protected in the winter.
ReplyDeleteTina, I did not think this morning till I was watering my plants this afternoon and it made me think that I have a house plant that has many thorns and it has gotten so big some of the stems are as big as the one you show and the thorns are as big also. Every one complains about it getting them when they walk by it. It is a "Crown of Thorns" I think. I wonder if they are related. I just left a comment about Josh on Dawn's blog that you need to read. Just do not want to write it 2 times.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I can't say I could identify the Devil's walking stick, but have certainly wondered how it got the name.
ReplyDeleteTina, I think I remember reading a long time ago that only the devil could use a thorny branch like that for a walking stick. The berries are quite pretty though!
ReplyDeleteHi Helen!
ReplyDeleteJackie, I believe aralia does grow all along the eastern U.S. so it should also be in Massachusetts and even Maine (my home state).
JJ, Nope, I don't think I've seen the Devil's backbone plant though I might have heard of it. Perhaps from Lola-she says she has it. Sounds interesting...
Mom, So many love that Crown of Thorns and I think yours is gorgeous too. I think Crown of Thorns is in the euphorbia family and the arailia is different though I'm sure they get confused. I read about Josh-he's definitely hitting those terrible 2s! All my kids got it when they were about 2.5 years old to about 3.5 years old so look out to Sarah!
Lzyjo, Lots of interesting reasons for sure for the name.
Jean, The berries are so pretty indeed. One would need a tough hand indeed to use this stick! Love those faux palm trees!
That is a tree that could put a serious hurting on you if you weren't careful. I think that's the reason for the name! Just kidding. I really have no idea. I don't know if they grow in Colorado or not? If they do, I probably wouldn't plant one because I'd forget and stick myself. The berries sure are nice tho.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea where the name came from, but it's fun to read through the theories of your readers. Whatever the origin of the name, I like the looks of this plant, anything spiky is okay with me.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the devil uses it to harass or intimidate others on the trail of life.
ReplyDeleteI know I wouldn't want to come across it unexpectedly.