Bristly Sarsaparilla

Aralia hispida

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Celastrina serotina, Eupithecia satyrata, Celastrina neglecta
S13+S15 3 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Aralia drupes are consumed by at least 6 bird species including Wood Thrush (60% occurrence), Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush (90% occurrence), Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, and Pine Grosbeak. The fleshy purple-black fruits ripen in late summer and may persist into early fall for migrating thrushes.
S57 6 bird species at genus level; S61 berry color purple

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Secure (S5) in both Ontario and Quebec with a global rank of G5. Not listed under SARA. Nationally ranked N5 in both Canada and the United States. Widely distributed across eastern and central North America from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and south to Virginia.
S22 G5, N5 CA, N5 US; S26 not SARA listed
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Bristly sarsaparilla is a pioneer of disturbed sandy and rocky sites in the Shield and northern forest regions. It colonises burned-over clearings, cut-over ground, gravel pits, and sandy roadsides via extensive horizontal roots, forming large colonies that persist only a few years before being shaded out by successional vegetation. Typical associates include jack pine, aspen, bracken fern, and Prunus.
S7 sandy savanna, pioneer of disturbed sites; S29 rocky or sandy sterile soils; S48 specimens from Aylmer QC

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 7 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Category: Cardiac, Alterative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Tonic
S28 Heart Medicine, Alterative, Tonic; S29 Alterative, Cardiac, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Tonic
Notes: The Algonquin of Quebec used root infusions to treat heart disease, while the Potawatomi employed the root as an alterative and tonic. The bark, especially root bark, is considered diuretic and tonic in traditional herbalism. A homeopathic preparation from fresh root was used for dropsy. Health Canada lists the root as a homeopathic substance.
S28 Algonquin heart medicine, Potawatomi alterative/tonic; S29 bark diuretic/tonic; S36 homeopathic substance

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: Roots are used to make tea and a beverage similar to root beer. Edibility rating is low (2/5) and the plant is not consumed as food. No food uses recorded in Moerman's ethnobotanical database.
S29 tea and root beer from roots; S28 no Food category uses