Lime Prickly-Ash
Zanthoxylum fagara
Last reviewed: September 2026
Zanthoxylum fagara is a small thorny tree that grows in sunny, dry to well-drained sites and blooms from March through August in Florida and Texas.
Toxicity unknown
Lime Prickly-Ash (Zanthoxylum fagara) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
300"–360" H × 72"–84" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
FL, TX
Pollinators
nectar insects
Before you buy
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Lime Prickly-Ash is a native Texas evergreen tree that grows 25-30 feet tall with a narrow, upright form. It produces small flowers from spring through summer and has aromatic foliage. The tree has thorny branches and develops small citrus-scented fruits.
Growing Lime Prickly-Ash
Grow Lime Prickly-Ash in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 300 to 360 inches tall and spread 72 to 84 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Lime Prickly-Ash takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
This tree attracts numerous nectar-feeding insects including bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps during its extended bloom period. It serves as a host plant for giant swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does Zanthoxylum fagara need?
- This tree grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun conditions, especially at the edge of thickets or open woodland.
- How much water does Zanthoxylum fagara require?
- It is adapted to low water conditions once established and also handles occasional medium moisture, making it suited to well-drained, dry sites.
- When does Zanthoxylum fagara bloom?
- Flowering typically runs from March through August, with small clustered blooms appearing along the branches during the warmer months.
- What pollinators visit Zanthoxylum fagara flowers?
- The small flowers attract a range of nectar-seeking insects, which visit the blooms throughout the spring and summer flowering period.
- What growth habit does Zanthoxylum fagara have?
- It grows as a small tree or large shrub, often with a thorny, thicket-forming habit found in coastal scrub and hammock type settings.
- Is Lime Prickly-Ash HOA-friendly?
- Lime Prickly-Ash takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Lime Prickly-Ash? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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