Yellow Prickle

Zanthoxylum schreberi

Native to:
Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rutaceae
Genus:
Zanthoxylum
Species:
Zanthoxylum schreberi
USDA Symbol:
ZAMO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
1500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may
Bloom Colors:
green, yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Eunica monima

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fall Color:
yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers organic matter-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Seeds have hard seed coat requiring scarification; cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI