Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) is a deciduous shrub growing from rhizomes.   It is found in damp, shaded forests, mostly in areas to the east and north of Kamloops.  Thick stems spread horizontally and tend to overlap, rising up to 1 to 3 m.    Large yellowish spines line the stems.    Large green lobed leaves with pointed tips grow from stems with many spines underneath.

Small white flowers appear in clusters.    In summer, clusters of inedible red drupes form.

In wet forests and lowlands, devil’s club can fill the understory area as an impenetrable barrier.   We tried to work our way through it while trying to hike up peaks in the Terrace – Prince Rupert area.   We have been avoiding it now for 50 years.

There have been traditional uses of devil’s club for herbal medicinal purposes, continuing to current times, and modern research has also identified some benefits.

Some photos taken by the author of devil’s club from Wells Gray Park, the Monashees, and the Selkirks are shared here in a Google Photos gallery.