Szechuan Pepper Zanthoxylum simulans
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Fagara podocarpa
- Zanthoxylum acanthophyllum
- Phonetic Spelling
- zan-THOK-sil-um sim-YOO-lans
- Description
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Zanthoxylum simulans (flatspine prickly-ash) is an upright, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub with a wide flat-topped crown of glossy dark-green, pinnately-compound leaves. The bark of this plant is relatively smooth except for the broad spines on its branches and prickles on its trunk. Small green flowers open in mid-summer, creating a hazy texture. The inflorescences mature into dark red fruit that is dried and used in a pepper-like spice. Z. simulans thrives when used as a specimen plant or when planted as a group.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zanthoxylum
- Species:
- simulans
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Shade
- Edibility:
- Fruits are roasted dried and used in a pepper-like spice that is used in the Chinese "five spice" mixture
- Dimensions:
- Height: 26 ft. 0 in. - 49 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 22 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fragrant dark red round fruits split to reveal black seeds. They can be dried and used as a pepper-like spice.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small green flowers open mid-summer. Plants are dioecious, so if you want fruit you need to plant a male and female.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Fragrant when crushed 3-5 in. compound leaves with 7 to 11 leaflets. Resembles ash leaves.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Bark Description:
- The bark of this plant is relatively smooth except for the broad spines on its branches and prickles on its trunk. It is aromatic like the leaves and fruits.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Urban Conditions
- Wind
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
