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Hercules' Club

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Hercules' club (toothache tree) is a spiny native tree with aromatic citrus-scented foliage and corky, knobbed bark, a key larval host for giant swallowtail butterflies and a source of fruit for birds.

Family
Rutaceae
Type
wildflower
Lifespan
tree
Height
15–30 ft
Spacing
15–25 ft apart
Light
sun, part shade
Soil moisture
dry, moist
Soil pH
neutral
Bloom
April, May
Bloom colors
green, white
Wildlife value
pollinators, butterflies, larval host
Landscape uses
border
Native states
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, VA