Plant Details

Zanthoxylum piperitum

Szechuanpepper, Japanese Pepper, Sansho

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Common names

18 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Japanese Pepper[1]
  • Sansho
  • Szechuanpepper
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Japanse peperboom[1]
  • Sichuanpeper
French
  • Poivre de Sichuan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 日本花椒[1]
Finnish
  • pippurilimopuu[1]
Italian
  • Pepe del Sichuan[1]
Japanese
  • サンショウ[1]
  • 山椒[1]
Korean
  • 초피나무[1]
Slovak
  • žltodrev pieporný[1]
Spanish
  • Pimienta de Sichuan[1]
Turkish
  • Japon Biber Çalısı[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

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] Zanthoxylum piperitum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Japanese Pepper — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • サンショウ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 초피나무 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • Pimienta de Sichuan — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 胡椒木 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 日本花椒 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 日本花椒 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • Pepe del Sichuan — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 山椒 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • 山椒 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • pippurilimopuu — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • Japanse peperboom — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • Japon Biber Çalısı — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.
  • žltodrev pieporný — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 332459; Zanthoxylum piperitum.

General information

Scientific name: Zanthoxylum piperitum
Accepted name (Kew): Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Rutaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Szechuanpepper, Japanese Pepper, Sansho
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 2.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves, Condiment, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Parasiticide, Fragrant

Description

Cooked seeds can be ground into a powder and used as a spice, similar to pepper. The fruit can also be used, often after heating to release its full flavor. The ground and dried roasted fruit is used in Chinese 'five-spice powder.' Additionally, the bark and leaves are used as a spice. Young leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked, often added to soups or salads for extra flavor.

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 203908; name ID 2469051; Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.