Devil's Walking Stick

Size, growth and what to expect

A stem of devil's walking stick grows unbranched until it flowers, at an average age of 3.5 years. A colony spreads somewhat rapidly by suckers and seed, and our growth estimator models a stem at nearly three feet a year, its figure for a fast grower. Most plants stand 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, though wild ones reach 25 to 35 feet. Individual stems have reached 55 years.

The white flower heads open in July and August and run up to 2 feet long. The purple-black fruit ripens from late August into October, and birds, foxes, raccoons and black bears strip it. The name Hercules' club comes from the same stout spines on the stems and leaf stalks.

It grows wild from New York and Pennsylvania south to Florida and west to southwestern Iowa and western Texas, in low woods, thickets, ravines and along streams.

How to grow Devil's Walking Stick

Devil's walking stick grows in full sun or part shade and does best in sun. It prefers moist, fertile loam but takes clay, rock, sand, any pH, occasionally wet ground and, once established, drought. A colony spreads without limit, so give it 10 feet from paths and buildings and a spot out of strong wind, which shreds the big leaves. Set plants 6 to 10 feet apart.

Plant dormant bare-root or potted plants from leaf fall until bud swell, in a hole wider than the roots and no deeper. Set the crown at the soil line, put the native soil back in, and keep the mulch clear of the stem. Seed is ready when the fruit drops in September and October and the nutlets inside are hard. Clean off the pulp the same day, because the fruit ferments, then sow it at once a quarter inch deep in a bed outdoors for the winter. For spring, refrigerate it damp for 3 months first. Unchilled seed barely germinates. Seedlings appear in spring.

Water weekly through the first summer if rain is short. Deer browse it a little and bucks rub the stems, so cage it the first two years, and keep mulch thin at the base so voles do not nest there. No pruning is needed. Cut suckers at the ground wherever the colony is not wanted, in gloves and long sleeves; the bark can raise a rash.

Growth is fast, and a stem flowers first at three to four years old. The flowers are mostly perfect, so a single plant sets fruit. Leaf spots, aphids and mealybugs turn up but do no lasting harm, and a severe winter may kill stems to the ground; it resprouts. The unripe fruit is mildly toxic, worth knowing where small children play.