As the common name suggests this native species has straight thin walking stick stems with sharp spines all over. Although it sounds scary this is a great species with lots of attractive features and benefits! The habit of devils walking stick is upright with the bottom being "naked" and all of the leaves clustered at the top giving it an umbrella shape. Foliage is huge compound leaves getting to be 5 feet long with each leaflet being about 3.5 inches long. Late summer bring large umbels of small white flowers that attract many pollinators, especially bees! After pollination black fruits are produced and are enjoyed by songbirds and small mammals. Grows easily in most conditions as long as the soil is well drained. Drought tolerant, deer resistance, black walnut tolerant, tolerates urban pollution there isn't much that bother this Aralia. Being so unpicky it can naturalize rather quickly from suckers and seeds.