Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3190089

Northern Prickly Ash

Zanthoxylum americanum

Also known as Toothache Tree, Pellitory Bark, Yellow Wood

Northern prickly ash spreads readily through creeping root suckers, creating dense thickets along forest borders, fencerows, and sunlit woodlots. Crushing any part of the plant releases a pungent citrus aroma, revealing its close genetic kinship to true oranges and lemons. Throughout northern ranges, these shrubs serve as an indispensable nursery for giant swallowtail butterflies, whose caterpillars feast upon the aromatic foliage.

AromaticShrubDeciduous
Northern Prickly Ash reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotroph (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Eastern Cottontail
ThreatsHabitat clearing, canopy closure from fire suppression, and displacement by invasive brush
HabitatsWoodland edges, fencerows, riverbanks, and open rocky bluffs
Life span30–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyRutaceae
  2. SpeciesZanthoxylum americanum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries and seed capsules have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Aroma testing: Lightly bruise a fallen leaflet between your fingers to detect a bright lemon scent.
  • Branch caution: Watch for sharp, paired prickles at each node before reaching into dense thickets.
  • Caterpillar scouting: Search the tops of sunny leaves in midsummer for resting swallowtail larvae.
Related species
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