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Shrubs

Oplopanax horridus

devil's club

A deciduous shrub to 2.5m with upright, often unbranched, very spiny stems bearing very large, maple-shaped leaves up to 30cm across, with needle-sharp spines on the undersides. Conical, upright sprays of small, greenish-white flowers are produced in late spring or early summer, followed by small, red berries that last into winter

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Oplopanax are a small genus of deciduous shrubs with spiny stems, large leaves and whitish to greenish flowers. They produce small, spherical red fruits which are attractive to birds. Species of Oplopanax can reach between 1 and 1.5m in height, but if undisturbed may grow upwards of 5m.
Name status: Correct
Plant range: United States

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, acid soil in a cool position in full or semi shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed (which may take two years to germinate), by softwood cuttings or by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Sub-tropical

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

Generally problem free

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