Texas Hercules Club
Zanthoxylum hirsutum
Last reviewed: November 2026
Texas Hercules Club (Zanthoxylum hirsutum) is a perennial tree native to OK, TX. It blooms in March, April, and May. The flowers draw butterflies and bees. It reads as an intentional, HOA-friendly planting in the right spot.
Toxicity unknown
Texas Hercules Club (Zanthoxylum hirsutum) 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
72"–144" H × 72"–144" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
OK, TX
Pollinators
butterflies, bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Texas Hercules Club is a medium-sized native tree with distinctive spiny bark and compound leaves that turn yellow in fall. It produces small clusters of greenish-white flowers in spring followed by small red berries, creating year-round interest in the landscape.
Growing Texas Hercules Club
Grow Texas Hercules Club in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 72 to 144 inches tall and spread 72 to 144 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Texas Hercules Club is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone.
- Trees often require HOA/ARC approval even when allowed.
- Verify setbacks from sidewalks, driveways, utilities, and structures.
- Confirm mature height/canopy limits and sightline rules for corners.
Wildlife value
This tree attracts butterflies and bees with its spring blooms and provides berries for birds. It serves as a host plant for giant swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does Texas Hercules Club need?
- Texas Hercules Club grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Texas Hercules Club bloom?
- Texas Hercules Club blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Texas Hercules Club native?
- Texas Hercules Club (Zanthoxylum hirsutum) is native to OK, TX, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Texas Hercules Club attract?
- Texas Hercules Club draws butterflies and bees.
- Is Texas Hercules Club HOA-friendly?
- Texas Hercules Club is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
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.
- 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 Texas Hercules Club? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.