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 31 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: October 2026

Northern prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) is a perennial shrub native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 31 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bees.

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 31 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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Northern prickly-ash.

Try it with your yard

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.

Growing Northern prickly-ash

Grow Northern prickly-ash in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 60 to 180 inches tall and spread 60 to 120 inches wide.

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 31 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

Ready to grow Northern prickly-ash? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app