Hercules Club Tree
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Size
Height - 30 feet
Width - 10 feet
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Plant Type
Native shade tree,
deciduous
Other common names
Southern Prickly-Ash, Devil's Walking Stick,
Tickle-Tongue Tree,
Toothache Tree
Close up view
Full plant view
Save Water Low water required
More Color Tiny yellow flowers in spring, yellow foliage in fall
Attract Wildlife Birds eat fruit, Giant Swallowtail caterpillars eat leaves
Reduce Maintenance Low maintenance choice for a native landscape
Texas Tough Drought tolerant and valuable to wildlife
Interesting Facts
This tree contains a natural topical numbing agent (hence its common names "Tickle Tongue" and "Toothache Tree"). It is said that pioneers would chew the bark and leaves of this tree to ease toothache pain. Leaves are said to smell like "toothache drops." Fruit has a lemon zest taste and numbs the mouth, similar to Szechuan peppers (both plants are from the Zanthoxylum genus). Bark and branches can be very spiny; not a good choice to plant along bike paths or where children play. Is larval host plant of the Giant Swallowtail butterfly. Note: This plant is often confused with Aralia spinosa, but they are two distinct species.