How much sun does Northern prickly-ash need?

Northern prickly-ash grows best in part sun conditions.

When does Northern prickly-ash bloom?

Northern prickly-ash blooms in April and May.

Where is Northern prickly-ash native?

Northern prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 32 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Northern prickly-ash host?

Northern prickly-ash is a larval host plant for giant swallowtail.

Northern prickly-ash

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Zanthoxylum americanum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown

Northern prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) 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

part sun

Water

medium

Size

60"–180" H × 60"–120" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DC and 32 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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A thorny, thicket-forming shrub called prickly ash, with compound aromatic leaves and small clusters of yellow-green flowers before leaf-out. Suckers freely to form dense colonies, so it reads as informal and wild rather than groomed.

Wildlife value

Host plant for giant swallowtail.

A larval host plant for giant swallowtail butterflies, and its thorny thickets provide dense cover and nesting sites for songbirds.

Common questions

How much sun does Northern prickly-ash need?: Northern prickly-ash grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Northern prickly-ash bloom?: Northern prickly-ash blooms in April and May.
Where is Northern prickly-ash native?: Northern prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 32 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Northern prickly-ash host?: Northern prickly-ash is a larval host plant for giant swallowtail.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

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