Hercules club, Pepperwood, Toothache tree
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 3-10 m tall. It is spiny. The bark has corky lumps 2-3 cm long. The leaves are 20-30 cm long with 7-19 leaflets along the side. Each leaflet is 4-5 cm long. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowering groups are 20 cm long. Each flower is 6-8 mm across. Fruit occur in clusters. The fruit are 6 mm across and have a rough surface. Fruit contain one seed.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on sandy soils and can be in open or shaded positions. It suits hardiness zone 6.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America (country/location of origin), USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Caution, seeds - flavouring

How it is grown

It grows at a medium rate.

Its other names

Local names

Pepperbark, Southern prickly ash, West Indian yellowwood

Synonyms

Pseudopetalon glandulosum Raf.; Pseudopetalon tricarpum (Michx.) Raf.; Zanthoxylum aromaticum Willd.; Zanthoxylum clava-herculis subsp. clava-herculis; Zanthoxylum hidalgense Lundell; Zanthoxylum macrophyllum Nutt.; Zanthoxylum tricarpum Michx.;