Zanthoxylum alatum
Winged Prickly Ash
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Zanthoxylum alatum.
Common names
3 names · 3 languages- EnglishYour language
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- Winged Prickly Ash
Other languages (2)
- Dutch
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- Nepalese peperboom
- French
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- Poivre du Sichuan
Sources & name notes
Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.
General information
Plant characteristics
Growing conditions
Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Partial shade, Full sun
Uses
Condiment
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
Sources and references
References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.
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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.
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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 .
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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 .