Oplopanax horridus, devil's club
1 / 5
Deciduous Shrubs

Oplopanax horridus

devil's club

Araliaceae

Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon to California; east to Rocky Mountains; moist old-growth conifer forests, ravines, stream banks, and forest edges

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height3-10 feet (0.9-3 m)
Width4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 m)
Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 9
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Deer Resistant
Native to North America
Maintenancelow

Overview

A large, dramatically armed, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub in the family Araliaceae (ginseng family), native to moist old-growth conifer forests, ravines, stream banks, and forest edges from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon to California, and east to the Rocky Mountains. The specific epithet horridus means 'bristling' or 'rough,' accurately describing the dense covering of sharp, pale yellow spines on the stems, leaf petioles, and the undersides of the leaf veins — the spines are the most immediately diagnostic feature and make handling without protection painful and potentially dangerous, as they break off readily and cause slow-healing puncture wounds. Plants grow 3–10 feet (0.9–3 m) tall, typically with a few unbranched or sparsely branched erect stems topped by a crown of enormous, palmately lobed, maple-like leaves 8–16 inches (20–40 cm) across with 5–9 pointed, toothed lobes — among the largest leaves of any native PNW shrub. From June through July, the stem tip produces a large, compound, rounded to somewhat pyramidal cluster of small, greenish-white to cream flowers. The fruits ripen to bright red, flattened, berry-like drupes in tight clusters by August–September and are consumed by bears and some bird species. Oplopanax horridus is of profound cultural and medicinal significance to many Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and Interior Plateau. Non-toxic by ingestion; the spines are the primary physical hazard.

Native Range

Native to moist old-growth conifer forests, ravines, stream banks, and forest edges from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon to California, and east to the Rocky Mountains.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a bold architectural specimen, defensive barrier planting, or naturalistic feature in large Pacific Northwest shade gardens and moist native forest plantings — allow 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) minimum per plant. The enormous lobed leaves, architectural form, and bright red berry clusters in fall provide exceptional ornamental impact in appropriate conditions. Of significant educational value for PNW botany programs — demonstrates the Araliaceae family, Indigenous ethnobotany, and defensive spine adaptations. Not appropriate for high-traffic areas or gardens accessible to children. Combines with Lysichiton americanus, Dryopteris expansa, and Gymnocarpium disjunctum in moist conifer forest understory plantings.

How to Identify

Unmistakable and unlike any other native PNW shrub: erect stems 3–10 feet (0.9–3 m) densely covered in sharp pale yellow spines — the spines also cover leaf petioles and the undersides of leaf veins. Horridus means 'bristling.' The enormous palmately lobed, maple-like leaves 8–16 inches (20–40 cm) across with 5–9 pointed, toothed lobes and spiny undersides are unique in the PNW flora. The combination of spiny stems, spiny leaf undersides, very large maple-like leaves, and moist old-growth forest habitat is collectively diagnostic — no other PNW native plant resembles it. Do not handle without thick gloves — spines break off in skin and cause painful, slow-healing wounds.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread4' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white
cream

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Blooms June through July for 3–5 weeks, producing large, compound, rounded terminal clusters of small, greenish-white to cream flowers — related to ginseng (Araliaceae) and the flower structure reflects this family affinity. Attracts native bees and flies. Bright red, flattened, berry-like drupes in tight clusters ripen August–September and are consumed by black bears and some bird species.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish-white to cream; small flowers in large compound rounded terminal clusters June–July — Araliaceae (ginseng family); followed by bright red flattened berry-like drupes in tight clusters Aug–Sept; bear food; SPINES: pale yellow, break off in skin, cause painful slow-healing puncture wounds — thick gloves required

Foliage Description

bright to medium green above, paler beneath; enormous palmately lobed maple-like 8–16 inches with 5–9 pointed toothed lobes; SPINES on petioles and leaf vein undersides — as well as covering all stems; horridus = 'bristling'

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Full Shade
Tolerates up to 3 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loampeat
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.0–7.0. A specialist of moist old-growth forest understory — requires consistent moisture and shade to perform well; does not tolerate dry summer conditions. Spreads slowly by rhizome to form thickets. Do not handle without thick leather gloves — the pale yellow spines break off in skin and cause painful puncture wounds that can become infected. Minimal maintenance once established in appropriate conditions. No fertilizer needed.

Pruning

Prune dead stems to the ground in late winter using thick leather gloves and long sleeves — even dead spines remain sharp and can cause injury. No other pruning is typically needed or desirable.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic