Devil’s Club Northwest Native

Devil’s Club Northwest Native

A truly stunning and unique Northwest native, Devil’s Club lives up to its name with treacherous spiny shoots that rise up in devilish defiance to the otherwise soft and lush arboreal rainforest surroundings. Long valued for its medicinal properties, Devil’s Club is a great addition to the shade garden for anyone who wishes to harvest this very unique plant that has a limited natural range usually growing in dense old growth forests. Related to American Ginseng of Eastern North America and often called “Alaskan Ginseng”.

Explore more Northwest Natives HERE!

Latin Name: Oplopanax horridus
Site and Soil: Devil’s Club likes shade to part sun in soils rich in organic matter and humus.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Likely hardy to about -15F.
Bearing Age: 3-5 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: typically 3-4 ft. sometimes reaching up to 10 ft.
Bloom Time: June
Ripening Time: October.
Yield: 100+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Sudden Oak Death can be an issue for Quercus species in Southwest Oregon and California but so far we have not seen it affecting the cork oak or oaks in the Portland Metro area.
USDA Zone: 5