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Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L.
Hercules Club, Pepperbark, Toothache Tree, Tickle Tongue, Prickly Ash
Rutaceae (Rue Family)
Synonym(s): Zanthoxylum macrophyllum
USDA Symbol: ZACL
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Aromatic, spiny, round-crowned tree with spreading branches and tiny gland-dots on foliage, flowers, and fruit.
The common and Latin species names both refer to the spiny branches. As the alternate names indicate, the bitter aromatic bark is a home remedy for toothache; chewing bark or foliage numbs the pain.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 50 feet tall. Often much shorter and shrub-like.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , GreenBloom Time: Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VANative Distribution: Central Virginia to S. Florida, west to E. Texas, and north to SE. Oklahoma; to 500' (152 m).
Native Habitat: Fence rows, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy Loam, Sandy, Medium Loam, Acid-based
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Aromatic, ShowyUse Wildlife: Seeds-granivorous birds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Giant swallowtail butterfly.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) ![]() Larval Host |
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Texas Master Naturalists - Lost Pines Chapter - Bastrop, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1073 Collected 2007-08-02 in Harris County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
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Web Reference
Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic BotanyWebref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Research Literature
Reslit 2645 - Some promising insecticidal plants (1947) R. C. RoarkReslit 2646 - Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in North America north of Mexico (1976) D. M. Porter
Reslit 2647 - New Host Associations for Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from Selected Species of Leguminosae and Rutaceae (1985) M. E. Rice
Reslit 2648 - The ichthyotoxic principles of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (1986) K. V. Rao, and R. Davies
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Zanthoxylum clava-herculis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Zanthoxylum clava-herculis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-16Research By: TWC Staff