1 of 2
Devil be darned, butterflies do love this walking stick's flowers.
Photo by L.A. Jackson
2 of 2
Tree huggers might want to keep a safe distance from the devil's walking stick.
Photo by L.A. Jackson
Amid October's lengthening shadows, a plant with ties to the devil lurks in the wilds of our state.
But before you start locking doors and peeping out windows, let's unpack the facts. The devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa) is a small tree native to the eastern U.S. The ominous appellation comes from an overabundance of nasty, hard thorns that ring its slender canes, making it a definite challenge for any dedicated tree hugger!
Despite menacing spikes—and menacing name—the deer-resistant devil's walking stick can still be an interesting landscape addition. The upper parts of its stalks support broad fans of compound leaves, which, in the summer, are crowned with clusters of small, sprite-like, white flowers. Butterflies and bees do love these blooms, and I have often seen so many of both jockeying for the best blossoms that it reminds me of saloon brawls in old Western movies.
Dark purple drupes form in early autumn, and they attract another rowdy crowd: birds, and plenty of them. Robins, bluebirds, cedar waxwings, wood thrushes and other feathered garden buddies sense the changing season and eagerly gobble up these nutritious eats.
After leaf fall, only bare canes remain. Their sharp spines on gray wood, made obvious in the low winter sun, create otherworldly visual moments that, depending on your disposition, range from cool goth to horticulturally haunting.
Devil's walking stick can grow 20 feet high or more. I don't let mine get that big—I cut off older, taller stalks to keep the plants restrained at around 10 feet in height.
Just for the heck of it, I sometimes give away culled canes to friends as weird souvenirs from my garden. They're a bit light for use as actual walking sticks, but they sure will start a conversation!
As far as finding such a strange beauty, in spite of it being native, devil's walking stick is not a common sight at garden centers. But still check with your local favorites, just in case. While you can find it online, also contact the South Carolina Native Plant Society (scnps.org), as a chapter near you might be offering it at their fall plant sale.
October in the garden
- Plant flower seeds in autumn? Sure, especially if they are biennials and hardy annuals such as lunaria, bells of Ireland, sweet alyssum, cornflower, foxglove, Johnny jump-ups, sweet William, larkspur, hollyhocks, snapdragons, sweet peas, or Virginia stock that actually need the cold of winter to properly develop in time for next spring.
- Would you like your Halloween pumpkin to hang around long enough to also be a Thanksgiving decoration? Remember that the one you pick will last longer if it still has a few inches of stem attached. Keeping the rind intact will also help, meaning carved pumpkins will have a shorter show-off life.
Tip of the month
Are your tomato plants still going strong in the veggie patch? With cooler temperatures coming soon, you can either gorge yourself with every fruit on the vines until they die, or you can save some of what you have for an extended supply of home-grown tomatoes. For the latter (and, I am sure, preferable) option, simply harvest unblemished green tomatoes, wrap each in individual pieces of tissue paper, and store them inside in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Then, check them every week or two, taking out—and enjoying—mature fruits as they slowly ripen.
L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com.