Guides · Tree database · Pennsylvania trees
Devil’s walking stick identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Devil’s walking stick, Aralia spinosa, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, compound leaves. Enormous leaves up to 5 feet long, two or three times compound, with toothed leaflets 2 to 4 inches long and prickles along the stems. Bark: Gray-brown and spiny. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify devil’s walking stick
| Leaf type | Alternate, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Enormous leaves up to 5 feet long, two or three times compound, with toothed leaflets 2 to 4 inches long and prickles along the stems. |
| Bark | Gray-brown and spiny. |
| Fruit | Small purple-black berries about 1/4 inch on big pinkish-red clusters in late summer and fall. |
| Twigs | Very thick, club-like stems armed with sharp spines. |
| Size and shape | Large shrub or small tree up to about 30 feet that spreads by root sprouts into thickets. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is devil’s walking stick native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists devil’s walking stick as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Questions
How do you identify devil’s walking stick?
Look for alternate, compound leaves. Enormous leaves up to 5 feet long, two or three times compound, with toothed leaflets 2 to 4 inches long and prickles along the stems. Bark: Gray-brown and spiny.
Is devil’s walking stick native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists devil’s walking stick as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does devil’s walking stick get?
Large shrub or small tree up to about 30 feet that spreads by root sprouts into thickets.
How can you tell devil’s walking stick in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Very thick, club-like stems armed with sharp spines. Bark: Gray-brown and spiny.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Aralia spinosa fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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