Zanthoxylum simulans
Prickly ash, Flatspine prickly ash
Also known as Zanthoxlym bungei
- Height × spread
- 3.5m × 3.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a rather curious large shrub or small tree. It has a spreading habit with spiny branches and stems. The trunk is studded with big, fat, warty, pyramidal spines. There are smaller pyramids on the sturdy spreading branches. The foliage is pinnate, soft and delicate coloured bright green with some spines on the surface, it is aromatic. There are rather unnoticeable greenish yellow flowers in early summer and showy red fruits, knobs on stalks, in autumn. Give this plant any good, deep, rich soil in a sunny to lightly shaded site. If grown as a shrub it will reach 3.5m (11ft) height and spread. It can achieve around 6.5m (22ft) height if grown as a tree.
- Flower colour
- Green, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Round
- Height
- 3.5m
- Spread
- 3.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Structural
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves & stems are prickly/thorny
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.