Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum hirsutum)

Prickly Ash, also called Tickle Tongue Tree or Toothache Tree, is a spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree native to Texas. It has compound leaves and sharp prickles on the stems. The bark and leaves produce a numbing sensation when chewed, hence "toothache tree."

Botanical Profile

Ecological and Medicinal Uses

Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Host plant for the giant swallowtail butterfly. The numbing compound (xylopic acid) has traditional medicinal uses. The red berries are eaten by birds. A thorny but valuable native plant for wildlife gardens.