Zanthoxylum ailanthoides

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 15m

Eventual Spread: 12m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Rutaceae

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Flower (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides is a deciduous tree with a spreading habit. Its mid green leaves are odd pinnate and fragrant when touched. Its leaflets are lanceolate with entire margins, up to 18cm long, 6cm broad, and turn yellow in autumn before they fall. Its branches have thorns. Its yellow/ white dioecious flowers are up to 3mm across and appear as terminal axillary clusters. Its pale red/ brown fruit are small aromatic berries and appear in autumn.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, commonly known as Ailanthus Leaved Pepper, Japanese Prickly Ash or Crow Prickly Ash, is native Japan, Taiwan and southeast Asia. In its native habitat it grows in forest and thickets.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Leaf (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Zanthoxylum is derived from the Greek zanthos meaning ‘yellow’ and xylon meaning ‘wood’. Ailanthoides is derived from the Latin meaning ‘like an Ailanthus’, in reference to its leaves.

The landscape architect may find Zanthoxylum ailanthoides useful as an attractive small specimen tree.

Ecologically, Zanthoxylum ailanthoides flowers are attractive to some pollinating insects.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Bark (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides requires little maintenance.

Zanthoxylum piperitum

Zanthoxylum piperitum (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Rutaceae

Zanthoxylum piperitum Flower (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Zanthoxylum piperitum is a deciduous large shrub or small tree with a spreading habit. Its mid green leaves are odd pinnate, up to 15cm long and fragrant when touched. Its leaflets are ovate with crenate margins and turn yellow in autumn before hey fall. Its branches have sharp thorns. Its yellow/ green dioecious flowers are up to 5mmm across and appear in axillary clusters. Its red fruit are small aromatic berries and appear in autumn.

Zanthoxylum piperitum, commonly known as Japanese Pepper Tree or Japanese Prickly Ash, is native to nearly all of Japan, South Korea and parts of east China. In its native habitat it grows in scrub on hills and mountain sides. Its berries, known as Japanese pepper, is a spice used in a number of Japanese dishes.

Zanthoxylum piperitum Leaf (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Zanthoxylum is derived from the Greek zanthos meaning ‘yellow’ and xylon meaning ‘wood’. Piperitum if from the Latin meaning ‘with a hot biting taste’, in reference to its seeds.

The landscape architect may find Zanthoxylum piperitum useful as an attractive small specimen tree.

Ecologically, Zanthoxylum piperitum is a host species for a number of Japanese butterflies.

Zanthoxylum piperitum Bark (21/09/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Zanthoxylum piperitum prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Zanthoxylum piperitum requires little maintenance.