All in-stock items are still available for delivery! Free Delivery on all orders over £35 (UK Mainland)
Some Herbs may be too tall for our standard packaging and will be trimmed to fit. This will not be detrimental to the plant but will mean that these herbs will flower later in the year.
The Blister packs used to protect our beautiful herbs during transit are made from 100% recycled plastic and can be recycled kerbside.
The Sichuan pepper is a bushy, prickly, medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree, depending on growing conditions and pruning regime. It has leaves which are similar in appearance to the Ash which gives rise to one of its common names of 'Prickly Ash' they are up to 8cm long with up to 11 broad leaflets. they turn a lovely golden in Autumn. Flat-topped sprays of small, yellow-green flowers are produced in early summer, followed by open clusters of small, pinkish-red fruits that split open to reveal black seeds. Leaves, bark and fruit are all aromatic, this plant gives you the excuse to stop as you pass and to rub the leaves for their heady hit of spice and citrus.
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light, dappled shade, it will need a sheltered spot and is ideal for borders or as an exotic addition to the herb garden. It can also be grown in a container. Ultimate height 2.5-5m and spread 2.5-5m over 10-20 years, but can be pruned to contain its size and shape as desired.
The Sichuan pepper is not botanically related to black or white pepper, Szechuan pepper and a number of other members of the Zanthoxylum genus are certainly its culinary cousins and can be used as an alternative. It is a constituent of Chinese 5 spice and used a lot in Chinese cooking.
Harvesting usually late summer early Autumn just as the pinky red seedcases begin to open and show their dark seed. The outer shell is where the heat and aromatics are held (the seed is usually flavourless) but pick whole florets, leave them to dry somewhere warm for a day or two, and pop them into a peppermill. If the peppercorns are still closed in mid-autumn, pick them and lay them out on a piece of paper indoors somewhere warm and within a couple of days they should split to reveal the seeds.
Our potted Sichuan pepper herb plants are generally available to buy online between March and September.
| Zanthoxylum simulans (Sichuan pepper) Herb Tree | |
|---|---|
| Aspect/Site | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Free draining soil |
| Flower Colour | yellow |
| Height | 200cm |
| Spread | 200cm |
| Latin Name | Zanthoxylum simulans |
| Hardiness | RHS rating H6 - Hardy - very cold winter |
| Culinary | Asian |
| Scented | Foliage |
| Medicinal/Cosmetic | None |
| Flowering/Harvest/Interest | Autumn |
| Special Features | Architectural |
| Type of Garden | Herb |
Lovely healthy plants upright and fully leafed with some flowering and lots of new growth.Potted up and they are looking very happy at some stage i will have to decide either to ground plant or keep growing on to the 30ltr tree pot stage i'm leaning towards the latter just for ease of size.Great plants at a very good price so i will be coming back as i have a thought in my head to replant our front raised beds with edible only plants/herbs/flowering shrubs etc. Very pleased.
Ordered for a client's botanicals garden. Arrived quickly, beautifully packed. Good strong plant. Will definitely order from these guys again. Really really pleased.
I fancied having a Sechuan pepper tree/bush and as the brunettes birthday was coming up, it was the ideal opportunity to get one. I trawlwd the internet and Hooks Green Herbs had the catchiest name so they got my order. I'd left it rather close to the brunettes birthday but took a punt on it arriving on the day or day after. Well blow me if it didn't arrive the day after I'd ordered it. The box had "Do Not Crush" marked but as everyone knows, this translated into postie language means "Please Crush" Well, it didn't damage the sapling and it arrived in perfect condition. After the brunette had unwrapped it, told me how much she thought of it and snogged me for good measure, I planted the Szechuan pepper sapling securely in the ground. Sunny position. I wrapped it in some protection to guard against frost just in case. If I have a hankering for a tree in the future (I hope to get a Bramley apple sapling soon) I'll most certainly go to Hooks Green - they're really quite good and crikey, they're quick.
I was so excited to receive my herbs so quickly and all in beautiful condition, carefully packed for delivery. I hope they will all thrive now they are in the ground!
All good, lovely plant, packaged well with recyclable packaging.
Very healthy plant, well packaged and good value
I'd been looking for a Sichuan Pepper plant for a while. This one arrived in great condition and is great value for money. I will definitely order from Hooks Green Herbs again.
