In the spring the underground stems produce compound leaves that are large and finely toothed.

The stem of the plant grows straight up from the ground and divides into a whorl of three pinnately compound leaves with 3 to 7 (most often 5) leaflets arranged on either side of a central stalk.

[5] Aralia nudicaulis is sometimes called fool's sang since it is often confused with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), another member of the ivy family (Araliaceae).

Wild sarsaparilla lacks a woody base and has fine teeth along the edges of the leaves.

[7] The first scientific name for Aralia nudicaulis was published by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark Species Plantarum in 1753.