Plant Details

Zanthoxylum americanum

Prickly Ash - Northern, Common pricklyash, Northern Prickly Ash

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

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Common names

16 names · 10 languages
EnglishYour language
  • common prickly ash[2]
  • Common pricklyash[1]
  • Northern Prickly Ash[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • prickly ash[2]
  • Prickly Ash - Northern
Other languages (9)
Dutch
  • Kiespijnboom
  • Peperboom
French
  • clavalier d'Amérique[2]
  • Faux-poivrier
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美北刺花椒[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美北刺花椒[2]
Czech
  • žlutodřev americký[2]
Estonian
  • ameerika koldpuu[2]
Finnish
  • amerikanlimopuu[2]
Russian
  • Зантоксилум американский[2]
Slovak
  • žltodrev americký[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

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

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Zanthoxylum americanum Mill. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Common pricklyash (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 173837; taxon 7GDCY.
[2] Zanthoxylum americanum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • northern prickly ash — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • Зантоксилум американский — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • žlutodřev americký — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • clavalier d'Amérique — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • ameerika koldpuu — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • common prickly ash — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • prickly ash — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • 美北刺花椒 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • 美北刺花椒 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • amerikanlimopuu — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.
  • žltodrev americký — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54836; Zanthoxylum americanum.

General information

Scientific name: Zanthoxylum americanum
Accepted name (Kew): Zanthoxylum americanum Mill. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rutaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Prickly Ash - Northern, Common pricklyash, Northern Prickly Ash
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

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

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
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:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

Cooked seeds of the plant are used as an alternative spice, similar to pepper. The fruits are quite small, about 4-5 mm in diameter, and grow in dense clusters, making harvesting easy. Each fruit contains one seed.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

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 familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 206927; name ID 2470623; Zanthoxylum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 207493; name ID 2470763; Zanthoxylum americanum Mill..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Zanthoxylum americanum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2766116, ID 7GDCY: Zanthoxylum americanum Mill. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Zanthoxylum americanum — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .