Image of Zanthoxylum americanum
Source: Meneerke Bloem

Plant Names

image of Deciduous Tree
Zanthoxylum americanum
Northern Prickly Ash
Clavalier d'Amérique

Synonyms

American prickly-ash
common prickly-ash
toothache tree
frêne épineux

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: Yellow Bloom Period: Apr - Apr
Max Height: 20.0 feet
Max Width: 15.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will come back year after year Plant is dioecious Need a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
plant spread by rhizome Spreads by rhizome
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
hedge Can be used as a hedge
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
drought Tolerant Tolerates drought conditions
Limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Zanthoxylum americanum
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Zanthoxylum americanum

Specialized Bees Supported by Zanthoxylum americanum

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn)
  • Rhamnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn)
  • Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive)
  • Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn Olive)
  • Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow by December
  • Stratification duration: 120 days
  • Self-seeding
  • Notes: Soak for 24h.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: August
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Berries are ripen and easily fall off or have fallen off
  • Harvesting:
    • Squeeze berries to extract seeds, wash with soapy water, rinse throroughly
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: Six (6) seeds (eyeball)
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.