Zanthoxylum Piperitum

Japanese Pepper Tree, Japanese Prickly Ash

Japanese Prickly Ash becomes a dense shrub or small tree with glossy, dark green foliage. Each compound leaf is divided into many smaller leaflets, giving the plant a lighter texture than its sturdy branches suggest.

Paired thorns occur along the stems. Small yellow-green flower clusters are followed by reddish fruits containing dark seeds. Position the plant where its branching and fruit can be enjoyed without the thorny stems obstructing a walkway.

Choose a sunny site and allow room for the broad mature framework. It is best treated as a substantial landscape specimen rather than a small border filler.

Size
• Height: 8–15 ft
• Width: 8–15 ft

Hardiness
• Cold-hardiness reference: USDA Zone 5

Best Uses
• Specimen
• Border

Plant type

Deciduous Shrub, Deciduous Tree

Height

8-15 ft

Width

8-15 ft

Hardiness zones

5–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Moderate

Flower color

Yellow Green

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Yellow

Fruit color

Red

Landscape use

Border, Specimen

Shape

Compact, Dense

Bark

Rough

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

No

Deer resistant

No

Salt tolerant

No

Drought tolerant

No