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Zanthoxylum americanum (Common pricklyash)
Smith, R.W.

Zanthoxylum americanum P. Mill.

Common pricklyash, Toothache tree, Prickly ash

Rutaceae (Rue Family)

USDA Symbol: zaam

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A 12-25 ft., many-branched, shrub that often forms dense thickets. Toothachetree or prickly ash is a citrus and all parts are pungent and aromatic. Inconspicuous flowers are followed by small red, turning black, fruits. Stems are armed with nodal pairs of thorns. Compound leaves, resembling ash foliage, are dark-green. Yellow autumn color.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Extreme s.w. Que. to e. ND, s. to GA, AL, OK & e. KS
Native Habitat: Rocky hillsides; thickets in prairie ravines; roadsides
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Rocky, calcareous soils.
Conditions Comments: Pest free. Because of thorns and weedy habit, this is not a desireable landscape plant except for use as a barrier in poor soils.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Zanthoxylum americanum is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Thoas Swallowtail
(Papilio thoas)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA 		Giant Swallowtail
(Papilio cresphontes)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA 		Spicebush Swallowtail
(Papilio troilus)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Propagation by seed is possible.
Seed Collection: Capsules may be hand-picked from the shrub. The capsules open, discharging the seed after drying.
Seed Treatment: Seed exhibits a strong dormancy that can be broken with a two-hour H2SO4soak followed by cold-moist stratification for 120 days at 41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

American Native Nursery - Quakertown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Zanthoxylum americanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Zanthoxylum americanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Zanthoxylum americanum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-06-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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