Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum americanum
PLANT NAME
Prickly Ash
COMMON NAMES
Toothache Tree, Yellow Wood, Suterberry
BOTANICAL NAME
Zanthoxylum americanum
IDENTIFICATION
A deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America, growing up to 25 feet. It has pinnate leaves, stems covered in sharp spines, and produces small reddish-brown berry-like fruits that split to reveal black seeds.
IDENTIFICATION IMAGE
AI ART TO BE GENERATED
PARTS TRADITIONALLY USED
Bark and berries.
CULINARY USES
Not typically used as food, though the berries have a numbing, tingling citrus flavor similar to related Sichuan pepper.
TRADITIONAL USES
Chewing the bark or berries causes a tingling numbness, historically used to relieve toothaches. Used internally as a circulatory stimulant and diaphoretic to treat rheumatism and sluggish circulation.
GROWING / HARVESTING
Grows in rich, moist woods and thickets. The bark is harvested in the spring, and berries are collected in late summer or early fall when ripe.
SAFETY / CAUTION
Avoid during pregnancy. Can cause excessive stomach acid and gastrointestinal irritation in high doses. Always consult your doctor before using.
RELATED PLANTS
Southern Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum simulans).