Has anyone grown Szechuan pepper (Zanthoxylum)?

I just saw an article about the shrub and got interested, we use Szechuan pepper in cooking and the plant apparently is very hardy and draught tolerant.

There are many varieties, I'm not quite sure which one would be best for ornamental and culinary purposes.

Any experiences or thoughts anyone?

Jurassic plants has a good range, and RHS talks about Z simulans.

Thanks!

 

Heard of it never grown it.

 

I don't know which one I buy at the shop but I like the peppercorns in sweet and sour recipes. only a little as it can over power other flavours.

Try it out! Ive heard the species all taste quite different though.

 

This is an interesting read as well Oxford University Plants 400: Zanthoxylum species

I'd like to see what the plant might look like grown as UK garden or container plant.

 

I grow Zanthoxylum laetum and have a young plant, I will get a photograph of it over the next day or two.
The young foliage is very attractive and highly aromatic. Z laetum comes from China /Vietnam, it is one of the spiniest plants you will meet, it has spines on the trunk, branches, petiole and top and bottom of the leaves; flowers emerge from leaf axils late summer/early autumn.
As well as Asia a number of species are found in the US. Also known as the toothache tree as it has been used for treating that and also as the headache tree due to the strong smell of the foliage. I think it's rather pleasant in small doses.
Next year I might get Z acanthopodium from Jurassic Plants.

 

spines make it deer proof!

 

The young spines are quite soft as they are on many spiney plants.

 

This an overview of the species with links to specific species; note this article is in the process of revision.
Zanthoxylum - Trees and Shrubs Online
This online resource has been my go to reference for trees and shrubs since it became available online.

 

Funnily enough, I was going to start a thread about this! Our lovely @noisette47 gave me seed of this, and I have 2 plants - about 6 ft tall, viciously spiny, but quite spindly. For the first time, I have a few little peppers on them - pea sized and orange brown. I wondered if they needed anything doing before grinding and using. No photos because the rain is torrential here.

 

@CarolineL Probably just need to dry them.

 

Pictures of Zanthoxylum laetum taken this morning.
Z laetum stem flowers will appear in the leaf scars.


Z laetum Main shoot, has grown rapidly since planting last year.


Z laetum flowers

 

Z simulans seems to be a good one for the uk. I was interested in growing one a few years ago and that species seemed to have a lot of aromatic potential. I'm very tempted to try it or which ever species I can get at a decent size/price (some sell tiny seedlings for a high price because they are "exotic".

 

@Thevictorian you could do worse than look at Sechuan Pepper Range
as @Selleri suggested.
I had plants from them in the spring, prices were reasonable p&p was good value and the plants were good quality and well packed.

 

I did a quick Google and can buy Z simulans locally at a bigger size for about the same amount. It's a nice place to visit anyway but full of tempting plants, so could be dangerous.

Zanthoxylum simulans