Situated in the Woodland Garden this characterful tree is peppered with small red fruits.
Belonging to the citrus family Rutaceae the genus Zanthoxylum contains approximately 200 species of spiny, deciduous trees and shrubs from Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Africa. Members of the genus are distinguished by their young spiny branches and leaf stalks, alternate leaves, two-valved fruits, and the strong, aromatic and generally unpleasant scent released by the crushed foliage. This species occurs in the wild in China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. It has a spreading habit and produces small, red fruits with a rough surface in autumn, and these are harvested and dried in its native habitat to produce the distinctly flavoured culinary spice Sichuan pepper. This specimen is recorded as a UK and Ireland champion for its girth, and an English champion for its height.