Rare Spice, Hardy Thorny Pepper or Sichuan Pepper, ZANTHOXYLUM ARMATUM, Compact, Prickly Shrub, spines on Leaves, Exotic Look, Edible, 20-30cm Tall Plant in 8cm Pot

• One of the famous Sechuan Pepper shrubs, from which the seedpods can be used as a pepper substitute.
• Easy-to-grow, drought tolerant, 1-2m tall ornamental shrub with stout spines, small yellow flowers and red fruits - black seeds. Stunning yellow and orange Autumn coloration, exotic look.
• 20-30cm tall plant (not branched) in an 8cm pot. This plant will be ready to be planted out this Spring. Fully hardy and grown outdoors.
• Our plants are securely packaged using our special packaging method.

This species has spines on their leaves. Easy-to-grow, drought tolerant, 1-2m tall ornamental shrub with stout spines, small yellow flowers and red fruits - black seeds. If dried, the seed pods can be used as a condiment, stronger and more pungent than black pepper! Its Autumn coloration is remarkable: somewhere between pink and red. Its spines will never die, instead, they grow and age together with the plant and in a few years, they became 10 times larger than in their first year. It can be planted into the ground, or into a large pot - keeping it on the patio; also suitable for bonsai. An unusual, hardy ornamental and spice. Although some sources say it is dioecious, one plant usually fruits well, but even better, if you have several, planted close to each other. It is suitable for smaller gardens, by a wall or in a border, but also good for the patio, if grown in a container; or makes a good bonsai. With its spines, it looks exotic in any garden, especially if planted alone, but it is also great in borders too, with other drought tolerant shrubs, it has an exotic effect. Other common names: Flatspine Prickly-ash, Szechuan Pepper (as several species called) Native to: China, where it grows on hillsides and open woods Family: Rutaeae (Citrus Family) Habit (UK conditions): medium sized, rounded shrub Growth rate: medium Typical size in 10 years: 1-2m x 1-2m Main value: Autumn coloration, fruits, spines Flower colour: creamy (not significant) Flowering period: May - June Autumn coloration: shades of orange and yellow Preferences: easily grown in loamy soils in most positions, but prefers a good deep well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun or semi-shade Hardiness: hardy to about -20C