Common pricklyash
Zanthoxylum americanum

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can be 4-10 m tall. The leaves have leaflets along the side. There are 5-11 leaflets. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The petals are yellow to green. The fruit are green and turn red. The fruit are 4-5 mm across and contain one seed.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 3-7.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America (country/location of origin), Slovenia, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked and used as a pepper substitute.

Edible parts

Seed - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Northern Prickly-ash, Toothachetree

Synonyms

Thylax fraxineum (Willd.) Raf.; Zanthoxylum fraxineum Willd.; Zanthoxylum fraxinifolium Marshall; Zanthoxylum mite Willd.; Zanthoxylum parvum Shinners; Zanthoxylum ramiflorum Michx.;