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Oplopanax horridus
| Common name: |
Devil's Club |
Family: |
Araliaceae |
| Author: |
(Sm.)Miq. |
Botanical references: |
11, 60, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
Panax horridum (Sm.), Fatsia horrida ((Sm.)S.Watson.), Echinopanax horridus ((Sm.)Decne.& Planch.) |
| Known Hazards: |
The plant is densely armed with spikes and these spikes are irritant[200]. |
| Range: |
Western N. America. |
| Habitat: |
Moist woods, especially by streams[11, 60] and usually in rich soils[99]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
2 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 2 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Acanthopanax horridum[H]
Echinopanax horridum[H]
Eleutherococcus horridum[H]
Kalopanax horridum[H]
O. horrida[E]
O. horridum[E,H,Smap,Smo,Swal]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Devil'S Club [E], Devil's Club [H,S,FEIS,L], Devil's-club [B], Devilsclub [DEN1,P], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
horridus = prickly, bristly
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA Plants Database |
|
Order: Apiales. Ginseng family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Alaska
Canada(Kwakiutl) Canada(Salish) Us(Crow)
|
Physical Characteristics
A decidious shrub growing to 2m by 2m . It is hardy to zone 4 and is frost tender. It is in flower from June to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).
We rate it 2/5 for edibility and
2/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland).
It requires moist soil.
The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade.Edible Uses
Leaves
Root.
Young shoots - peeled and then cooked[46, 61, 105, 106]. Only the very
young shoots are used[172].
The roots can be chewed after peeling[105, 106, 161].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Analgesic
Antidandruff Antiphlogistic Antirheumatic Hypoglycaemic Parasiticide Tonic.
Devil's club was widely employed medicinally by several native North
American Indian tribes who used it especially for its pain-relieving
properties[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism, though it
probably merits further investigation.
The root bark and stems are analgesic, antirheumatic, antiphlogistic,
appetizer, blood purifier, cathartic, emmenagogue, galactogogue,
hypoglycaemic, ophthalmic, pectoral and tonic[172, 157]. An infusion is used
in the treatment of coughs and colds, bronchitis, tuberculosis, stomach
problems etc[257]. A decoction is drunk in the treatment of rheumatism and is
also applied externally as a wash on the affected joints[257]. A poultice of
the bark has been used to relieve pain in various parts of the body[257]. A
poultice of the bark has been applied to a nursing mother's breasts in order
to stop an excessive flow of milk[257]. A decoction has been used as an eye
wash in the treatment of cataracts and as a herbal steam bath for treating
general body pains[257]. The burnt stems, mixed with oil, are applied as a
salve on swellings[257].
An extract of the root bark lowers blood sugar levels and an infusion of the
bark has been used in the treatment of diabetes[213]. The infusion also has a
tonic effect on the blood and liver[213].
The inner bark is emetic in large doses and purgative (especially if taken
with hot water)[257]. It is used in the treatment of coughs and colds,
stomach and bowel cramps[257]. A poultice of the inner bark is used in the
treatment of wounds, sores etc[257].
The berries have been rubbed on the scalp to combat lice and dandruff, and
to make the hair shiny[256]. We have a more details factsheet on the history and medicinal use of this plant. Email webmaster@pfaf.org for details.
Other Uses
Parasiticide.
The berries can be mashed into a pulp and then rubbed onto the scalp to
get rid of head lice[257].
Cultivation details
Requires a cool moist soil[11, 200]. Prefers a position in light
shade[182]. Prefers dense shade and is probably best if grown in moist
woodland[1, 11]. Tolerates maritime exposure[200]. (Rather a strange report
for a plant that needs to be grown in dense shade[K]).
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15° c, but the
young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts[11, 200]. It is
therefore best not grown in a frost pocket[182].
This species was until recently considered to have its range in N. America
and Japan, but the Japanese form has now been separated off into its own
species as O. japonicus[200].
A very ornamental plant, but it is densely armed with spikes[60]. It
transplants easily and also tolerates pruning[200].
The leaves and stems are excessively spiny[182].
Propagation
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the
autumn[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out
into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their
first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or
early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of suckers in the dormant season.
Root cuttings in a greenhouse in the winter[188].
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
PFAF Web Pages
This plant is mentioned in the following web pages
Web References
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
- [FEIS] Data
(Uses, Ecology, Fire Effects) from the USDA Forestry Service Fire Effects Information System.
References for Echinopanax horridum (a possible synonym).
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
References for Fatsia horrida (a possible synonym).
References for Oplopanax horrida (a possible synonym).
References for Oplopanax horridum (a possible synonym).
References for oplopanax horridus (a possible synonym).
References for the family Araliaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955
A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[99] Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7
Excellent and readable guide.
[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
[106] Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975 ISBN 0-87857-090-x
Interesting reading but short on detail.
[157] Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0
A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.
[161] Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
[172] Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[213] Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
[256] Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1
Excellent little handbook about the native food plants of Western Canada. Good descriptions of the plants and their uses with colour photos of most plants.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
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