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

Obsolete Names

  • American prickly-ash
  • common prickly-ash
  • toothache tree
  • frêne épineux
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: Yellow Bloom period: April - April
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 Plant is dioeciousNeed a male and female plant to produce seeds
Gardener Experience:
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
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

Plant Distribution

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Zanthoxylum americanum
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Ecozone-Boreal Shield
  • Ecozone-Boreal_Plains

Butterflies Supported by Zanthoxylum americanum

  • Papilio cresphontes (Giant swallowtail)

Bees Supported by Zanthoxylum americanum

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

  • No complementary plants found.

Sowing Information

  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow before December
  • Stratification duration: 120 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting Information

  • Harvesting indicator: Berries are ripen and easily fall off or have fallen off
  • Harvesting mean: Put berries through strainer to separate seeds, then rinse with water
  • 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, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • On Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species