Sichuan pepper
Sichuan pepper: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Sichuan pepper, Zanthoxylum simulans, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the citrus family, Rutaceae. It has conspicuous prickles on its branches and trunk. Despite the name, it does not belong to the black pepper genus, Piper. Other species of Zanthoxylum provide related spices, so the common name alone cannot precisely identify every plant offered as Sichuan pepper.The foliage consists of compound leaves with several leaflets arranged on either side of an axis. Green during the growing season, the leaves may develop autumn colours before falling. The branching framework then remains visible, with its raised features and prickles. The plant can reach several metres in height and width, depending on the individual and conditions. Its garden presence is therefore that of a lasting woody plant rather than a small annual herb.The flowers are small, yellowish green and inconspicuous. They appear in spring or summer according to climate, without creating…
