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Home/Species/ Bristly Sarsaparilla

Aralia hispida

Vent.

Bristly Sarsaparilla

G5Secure Found in 14 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150091
Element CodePDARA02020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderApiales
FamilyAraliaceae
GenusAralia
Other Common Names
Aralie hispide (FR) bristly sarsaparilla (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-24
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2025-06-24
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Aralia hispida is a perennial herb that is native to the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, often colonizing recent disturbances such as burn scars. It is threatened by competition from invasive species, fire suppression, and recreational activities in some places. With a large range extent, more than 1200 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Aralia hispida is native to eastern North America from Alberta east to Newfoundland and south to Wisconsin and Virginia (FNA 2024). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 1200 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
The most widespread threat to Aralia hispida is competition from both invasive plants and native shrubs and trees due to lack of fire or other disturbance (NatureServe 2025). Motorized and non-motorized recreation and sand mining affect some occurrences. Right-of-way maintenance along roads may benefit this species by reducing competition from shrubs and trees. The extent of these threats is unknown and the severity of competition may be moderated by a long residence time in the soil seedbank to facilitate rapid colonization of disturbed areas (NatureServe 2025).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Aralia hispida grows in dry, sandy or rocky soils on cliffs, balds, and rock outcrops, forest openings and edges, meadows and fields, open woodlands, and rarely on hummocks in open swampy areas (Chayka 2025, Native Plant Trust 2025). It quickly colonizes disturbed areas but disappears as when the forest floor becomes too shady (NatureServe 2025).

Reproduction

The fruits are purplish black, resembling blueberries when ripe (Chayka 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest EdgeWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MaineSNRYes
IndianaS1Yes
New YorkS4Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
IllinoisSXYes
VirginiaS2Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
OhioS1Yes
MichiganSNRYes
New JerseyS3Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
VermontS4Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MarylandS1Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Island of NewfoundlandS3Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
Prince Edward IslandS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
QuebecS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
ManitobaS4Yes
LabradorS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownNeutral or Potential BenefitHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownNeutral or Potential BenefitHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (14)
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Minnesota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Baker - Homer - Brule LakesSuperior National Forest6,712
Hegman LakesSuperior National Forest675
Kawishiwi Lake To SawbillSuperior National Forest15,305
New Hampshire (6)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
West Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
References (10)
  1. Chayka, K. 2025. Minnesota Wildflowers. https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2024. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 13. Magnoliophyta: Geraniaceae to Apiaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 566 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Native Plant Trust. 2025. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org (accessed 2025).
  7. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  8. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  10. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]