Szechuan pepper

Profile

Family

Rutaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

2 m

Spread

2 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

120 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 6–9

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

5 – 7.5

Synonyms

Szechuan-Pfeffer

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Seeds are purchased and ground into a powder used as a spice, similar to pepper. The fruit can also be utilized. The spice is often heated to enhance its full flavor and can be mixed with salt as a table seasoning. The ground and dry-roasted fruit is part of the Chinese "Five-Spice Powder." Bark and leaves are also used as spices. Young leaves can be used raw or cooked in soups or salads for flavor.

Medicinal: Antiperiodic, antitussive, carminative, diuretic, parasiticidal, stimulant. The fruit contains an essential oil, flavonoids, and isoquinoline alkaloids, providing anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, and stomach-strengthening properties. Additionally, it inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and can be toxic to the central nervous system in higher doses. In Korea, it is used to treat tuberculosis, dyspepsia, and internal parasites. The resin found in the bark and especially in the roots is highly stimulating and invigorating.

Growing

Easy to grow in clay soils in most locations, this plant thrives in a deep, well-draining soil that retains moisture, in full sun or partial shade. Highly decorative and tolerant to temperatures down to about -15°C, this plant produces flowers on old wood. The crushed leaves are known for their intensely aromatic scent. Being dioecious, both male and female plants need to be cultivated for seed production. Occasionally, self-sown seedlings have been observed growing under the parent plant in bare soil.

Propagation

Sow seeds in a greenhouse immediately after maturity, preferably in autumn. Stored seeds may require up to 3 months of cold stratification, but scarification can also help. Sow stored seeds as early as possible in a cold frame. Germination should occur in late spring, although it may take an additional 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, and grow them in their first winter in a cold frame. Plant them out in early summer. Take semi-hardwood cuttings in July/August in a cold frame. Root cuttings, 3 cm long, planted horizontally in pots in a greenhouse. High success rate. Runners removed in late winter and planted in their final positions.

Notable

Special characteristics: thrives in deep-fertile soil but also grows in poor soil; Only the seed capsule/pericarp/fruit husk contains the flavor and mildly numbing effect like fizz on the tongue (lollipop). The spice aroma lasts 2-3 years at room temperature; Zant. simulans grows up to 4m tall and is more shade and cold tolerant.

Origin & habitat

East Asia - North China, Japan, Korea.

Forests in mountains and hills in Korea.

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