|
| |
Biscayne Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum coriaceum
Members of the Citrus (Rutaceae) family, their importance
has suddenly increased, as a larval plant for swallowtail butterflies, in the
face of the ban on growing citrus in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, due to
citrus canker.
|
Distribution of prickly ash used to be in coastal areas along
the east coast of Florida from Palm Beach down into the
Caribbean.
It is quite rare to find one in the wild nowadays, since
most of the natural coastal areas have been rehabilitated into more useful
stuff. |
 |
|
Flowers create a sensation when they appear in the
springtime. |
 |
 |
There are both female flowers (left), and male flowers
(below). |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pollinated female flowers develop into fruit clusters, which
pop open, revealing a shiny black seed inside. Crunchy! |
 |
 |
|
A close-up of the trunk reveals where the
"prickly" part of the name comes from. |
 |
|
Neighbors will ask you how your prickly ash is
doing. Show them, with pride.
|
 |
They generally keep a columnar growth habit, approximately
15' high, and about 7' wide. They are much
better behaved than their cousin, wild lime Zanthoxylum fagara.
Still, because of the thorns, you don't want to plant it too close to the
house, or in areas of traffic. |
|
Being coastal in nature, they prefer well-drained
locations, in either sand or coral rock.
Plant in full to partial sun. They don't need any
watering once established.
At right are some beauties in 7-gal.
Planted height of these is about
5' high.
|
 |
Call for prices, or come by to visit them in person.
ken@plantcreations.com
Plant Creations, Inc.
305-248-8147
|
