Plant Details

Zanthoxylum alatum

Winged Prickly Ash

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Zanthoxylum alatum.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Winged Prickly Ash
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Nepalese peperboom
French
  • Poivre du Sichuan
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Zanthoxylum alatum
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Zanthoxylum armatum var. armatum View name reference ↗

The linked source identifies Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb., which Kew places here. The alatum identity is retained within that broader treatment; other author-qualified uses of the name refer to different plants.

Sources [2] [3]
Botanical family: Rutaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Zanthoxylum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Winged Prickly Ash

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.00 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wood

Description

The seeds of this plant are ground into powder and used as a spice. It is often used in Eastern cuisines as an alternative to pepper. Lightly roasting enhances its flavor. These seeds are an essential ingredient in the well-known Chinese 'five spice' blend. Although the fruits are small, they grow in clusters, making them easy to harvest. Each fruit contains one seed. The young leaves of this plant are also used as a spice.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 00/00
Harvest ends: 00/00

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 206927; name ID 2470623; Zanthoxylum L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Zanthoxylum armatum var. armatum
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; The linked source specifies Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb., which Kew places here. The narrower alatum identity is retained for photographs; other author-qualified alatum usages are excluded.

    Source checked on .

  3. Plants For A Future Zanthoxylum alatum - Roxb.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Catalogue source profile: authorship and name context only. The linked source specifies Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb., which Kew places here. The narrower alatum identity is retained for photographs; other author-qualified alatum usages are excluded.

    Source checked on .