Japanese Pepper Tree - Zanthoxylum piperitum - €20 per plant 

This incredible plant can be grown as a spiny shrub or a small tree and always seems to capture the attention of visitors, especially when they can see the pepper corns framed by attractive red husks. It can grow in the deep shade of a forest making this an ideal candidate for the forest garden. It's easily grown in a variety of soil types and can tolerate quite cold temperatures, some wind and drought. The plant has extensive medicinal value with all parts of the plant having a specific use.  The ground and dry-roasted fruit is an ingredient of the Chinese 'five spice powder.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: E.Asia- China
  • native habitat: E. Asia - N. China, Japan, Korea.
  • family: Rutaceae

Predators

  • no experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full shade - semi shade - deep shade
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline  (can grow in 5.5 pH)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9
  • Prefers well drained soil
  • Drought tolerant
  • Prefers a continental climate with its hotter summers which ripens the wood of the plant better and thus allows it to tolerate colder conditions.

Known hazards 

  • None known

Overview

  • ​Deciduous Shrub growing to 2m by 2m at a medium rate
  • It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in October
  • Lots of literature on the plant describes it as dioecious, however in our experience flowers are hemaphroditic 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils
  • It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form:  Deciduous woody perennial  
  • layer : Shrub Layer/lower canopy
  • habit: Rounded shrub 
  • height x width (m): 2 x 2
  • years to bearing yield: 3rd or 4th year from seed
  • productive life span: 40+ years

Products 

  • Seed:The seed itself is not used but the dried husks of the seed. The taste is a pleasantly pungent combination of lemony citrus and pepper.
  • Medicinal: The plant has many medicinal properties. the bark, seed, fruit and leaves are all utilized.
  • Historically, the bark was widely used for toothache, colic, and rheumatism
  • A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of snakebites
  • Thorny branches make this a good barrier plant

Functions, behaviours

  • Flowers are formed on the old wood
  • The bruised leaves are strongly aromatic
  • Drought tolerant
  • Decent autumn colours
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project