Pollinator plant

Szechuan Pepper

Zanthoxylum simulans

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

19 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Prickly-ash[2][3]
  • Chinese-pepper[1]
  • Flatspine Prickly Ash[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Prickly Ash
  • Sichuan Pepper[2][3]
  • Szechuan Pepper[1]
Other languages (10)
Dutch
French
  • Poivre de Sichuan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • žlutodřev čínský[3]
Japanese
  • オオザンショウ[3]
Korean
Polish
  • żółtodrzew zwodniczy[3]
Russian
  • Зантоксилюм подражающий[3]
Slovak
  • žltodrev klamný[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Zanthoxylum simulans — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Szechuan Pepper — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Chinese-Pepper — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Flatspine Prickly Ash — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Zanthoxylum simulans.
[2] Zanthoxylum simulans — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Chinese peperboom — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Sichuanpeper — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Sichuan Pepper — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Chinese Prickly-ash — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
[3] Zanthoxylum simulans — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinese peperboom — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Sichuanpeper — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Sichuan Pepper — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Chinese Prickly-ash — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • 刺花椒 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • žlutodřev čínský — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • オオザンショウ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • 野花椒 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • Зантоксилюм подражающий — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • 野花椒 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • żółtodrzew zwodniczy — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • 왕초피 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
  • žltodrev klamný — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 170408; Zanthoxylum simulans.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Zanthoxylum simulans is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rutaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
7.92–14.94 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.05–6.71 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect; Rounded; Spreading; Vase

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
China, S. Korea, Taiwan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
4.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun, Shade

Uses

Edible parts
Seasoning
Functions
Fragrant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

The fruit of this plant is dried and used as a spice. It has a paprika flavor that is stronger and sharper than black pepper. The fruit can be used whole or ground into powder as a flavoring. Lightly roasting it brings out the flavor even more. It is an important ingredient in the well-known Chinese 'five-spice blend.'

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Zanthoxylum simulans — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1497703; ID 5CWQT; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1497703; ID 5CWQT; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Zanthoxylum simulans — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Zanthoxylum simulans — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 580561; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 928184, 928185, 928186, 928187, 928188, 928189

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.