Sichuan (Szechwan) Pepper Tree

Sichuan pepper trees! They look incredibly unique with their bright green foliage against almost-black bark and prehistoric thorns. Though not a true pepper, the seed cases of this deciduous shrub or small tree are used to create the commonly known Sichuan (or Szechuan) pepper spice mix. The Sichuan pepper’s leaves, bark and fruit are all aromatic. Creamy flowers in spring are followed by bright red fruit and attractive yellow fall foliage. Plant in full sun to part shade and expect them to grow 8-13 feet tall. Don’t worry about the cold - they are hardy to Zone 5, and self-pollinating, so you only need one. Common names: Sichuan Pepper, Szechuan Pepper, Szechwan Pepper, Sechuan Pepper, Chinese Pepper, Chinese Prickly-Ash, Flatspine Prickly-Ash Edible: Seed husks, leaves and young shoots Harvest timing: Late summer Scientific name: Zanthoxylum simulans (related to the citrus family) Light requirements: Full sun to part sun Full-grown size: 8-13' tall Hardiness: Zone 5 Pollination: Self-pollinated females Wildlife: Attracts pollinators Origin: China and Taiwan Noteworthy: Sichuan 'peppercorns' have a numbing quality almost opposite to that of capsaicin in chili peppers; instead of causing pain, they can cause a sensation of numbness. It is believed that the numbing sensation offsets the heat of hot peppers, allowing more flavours to come through in the dish.