Zanthoxylum nitidum aka Shiny Leaf Prickly Ash

Zanthoxylum nitidum is a shrub that keeps its leaves year-round. It belongs to the rue family, Rutaceae. Its native range spans southern China and southern Japan. It also spans tropical Asia, reaching Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It grows in rain forests and dense thickets. Most of its range has a tropical or subtropical climate. People gather wild plants for medicine and grow them too.

The plant has prickles, and its branches spread outward. It can stand upright or scramble through nearby growth. Some plants become woody climbers instead of upright shrubs. Its leaves give cover all year. Gardeners sometimes use it as a hedge. PFAF also lists it for woodland edges and dappled shade. Its spreading branches and scrambling growth suit these uses.

Flowers grow on wood from past years. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. Most plants have either male or female flowers. Grow both sexes together if you want seeds. A few plants bear flowers of both sexes. Records note the fruit's use as a spice. Take care with this food use: the plant is slightly toxic. People have also crushed plants to stun fish in water.

Choose deep soil that drains well but stays moist. The plant grows in full sun or part shade. It is unlikely to survive more than a little frost. Its range in China reaches USDA zone 9. This suggests it may grow outdoors in the warmest temperate areas. It does not give a full hardiness range. Sow fresh seed soon after the fruit ripens. Stored seed may need three months of cold treatment. Scratching the seed coat may help too. Seeds can take six months to sprout, or another year beyond that. Other ways to grow new plants include half-ripe cuttings. Root cuttings and dormant suckers are options too.

Traditional medicine uses the roots, bark, fruit, and leafy branches. Records list uses for toothache, fever, stomach pain, and sore throats. These past uses do not prove that treatment is safe. The bark and roots hold resin used in these traditional remedies. People have also used the plant to kill insects. They have used its roots to make smoking-pipe stems. These uses add to its roles as a hedge and spice source.