Szechuan Pepper Plant (Zanthoxylum simulans)

Szechuan Pepper is the source of the culinary spice used in Szechuan cooking. Deciduous in nature and hardy to Zone 6, Szechuan Pepper is an abundant producer of small red berries that are harvested at the end of summer or early fall. The outer husk surrounding the seed is ground into an aromatic spice that may be used alone or as a component of Chinese Five Spice blend and has a lemony, peppery taste with a slight numbing sensation to the lips and tongue. Szechuan Pepper is easy-togrow and will fruit in a couple years from our cutting-grown plants. At Logees, we grow Szechuan Pepper in a container where the height is easily maintained with a little pruning.