Devil's club
Oplopanax horridus
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Pl. 8FC0 — Oplopanax horridus
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IOverview
Overview
Devil's club (Oplopanax horridus) is a perennial shrub native to the Pacific Northwest and northern regions of North America, including Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Ontario, Oregon, Washington, and Yukon. Known for its edible and medicinal properties, this plant thrives in moist environments with partial sun to full shade, growing up to 2 meters tall. Its distinctive features include prickly stems and large compound leaves. Devil's club is valued both for its edible shoots, leaves, and roots, as well as for traditional medicinal uses documented by indigenous communities.
Quick answers
What is Devil's club?
Devil's club (Oplopanax horridus) is a perennial shrub native to the Pacific Northwest and northern regions of North America, including Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Ontario, Oregon, Washington, and Yukon.
What is Devil's club used for?
Traditionally used for topical & skin. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Devil's club
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Devil's club appears in herbal sources around traditional skin-care routines, often as a topical preparation. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Devil's club support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Devil's club thrives in partial sun to full shade and prefers moist soil that is light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It is hardy in zones 4-8 and can grow up to 2 meters tall as a perennial shrub. For propagation, gardeners can use root cuttings or division methods. The edible parts include leaves, roots, and shoots.
Light
Partial sun/shade, Full shade
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
4-8
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Shrub
Mature size
2 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Devil's club for the first time
8steps
Devil's club is a hardy shrub that can be easily grown by beginners with the right conditions.
- 1
What you'll need
A Devil's club plant, garden gloves, and a trowel.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring or late fall when temperatures are cooler.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Ensure the soil is moist, with light (sandy), medium, or heavy clay content. Amend as needed for drainage.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Transplant young plants from a nursery or divide an existing plant in early spring.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep the soil moist and mulch around the base to retain moisture.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide partial sun to full shade, water when dry, and prune dead or damaged branches as needed.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune in late winter before new growth starts. Remove any dead or diseased parts.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in full sun, neglecting to mulch, and not providing enough shade.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootShoots
Edible uses: Devil's club leaves, shoots, and roots are edible. The young shoots are often harvested in spring and can be eaten raw or cooked. Roots may also be consumed after preparation, though detailed methods for consumption are not provided here.
Other uses:Pest control
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
10 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
10 native · 0 introducedDistribution across1 continent· 10 native
Americas1 region
native (1)United States
Broader regions
native:Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Ontario, Oregon, Washington, Yukon
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
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